Christina Applegate

 Christina Applegate was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2008. She had inherited the gene. After undergoing a double mastectomy, she was declared cancer free. Now in 2011, she was able to give birth to her daughter Sadie.

Breast Cancer Survivor Story

Breast cancer survivors love to talk about their treatments, so please bear with me. I was first diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 1995. A mammogram showed calcifications in the ductile system of the lower half of my right breast. I had a fibrous right breast for several years and was conscientious about getting annual mammograms. I was sent to a surgeon for a biopsy and was reassured that there was very little chance that it would be malignant, but it was! He recommended a mastectomy since the entire lower half of the breast was involved and reassured me that it was almost certainly ductal carcinoma in situ and had not spread out of the ducts of the breast to the lymph system, but it had!

They removed and examined 12 lymph nodes and only found two malignant cells in the lymph node closest to the breast. A panel of seven oncologists decided that I did not need chemotherapy or radiation since no tumor was found and it appeared that the cancer had just entered the lymph system. They were quite sure they had removed the only affected node. Since the cancer tested positive for estrogen, it was decided to treat me with Tamoxifen to prevent the slight chance that it might reoccur, but it did!

In December of 1997, a blood test showed that the cancer was active. Scans found it in my right clavicle lymph node, in several abdominal nodes, and in the spine. A biopsy showed that it was breast cancer that had metastasized. I began chemotherapy shortly thereafter and have continued weekly treatments ever since. I have had combinations of eight chemotherapies (including, Adriamycin, Taxol, Taxotare, Gemzar, and Navelbine), two complete rounds of radiation (spine and brain), three hormone treatments (Arimidex, Femara and Tamoxifen), and monthly infusions of Aridea to strengthen my bones. Most of my treatments are in six-month schedules with short breaks in between.

I always plan a wonderful trip during these breaks. As a breast cancer survivor, it is important to have something to look forward to. During the first break, we took an eleven-day Hawaiian cruise. (It was the first time my husband, Bob, had been on a ship since he was in the Navy in World War II, and he loved it!) During the next break, we went on a cruise to Greece and Turkey following in the footsteps of the apostle Paul. On our last trip, we went to Israel – what a blessing!

Good Morning America!

 Good Morning America'a Robin Roberts talks Breast Cancer in the magazine Prevention March 2011:

“I found my lump in a self-exam!  Because I was familiar with my body and the lumps, I knew this one felt different. I called the doctor’s office and said, ‘Hey, I found a lump—can you move up the exam?’  They said, ‘No, we’re booked solid.’  And I’m thinking to myself, Wow, this really happens.”
“[After completing radiation] I was in a funk.  I was depressed.  Also you’re mad at yourself because you’re thinking, I’m supposed to be happy.  The treatment’s over.  My hair is growing back.” My treatment ended in March/April of ’08.  It wasn’t until the end of that summer that I started to feel I wasn’t depressed.  Even when I went on vacation to Saint Lucia, I was kind of depressed, even though it was such a beautiful place.”

What is Health Alberta doing about Breast Cancer?

Alberta introduced a new program in 2004 called Breast Cancer screening program. You can find more about it at this link: http://www.health.alberta.ca/health-info/breast-cancer-program.html

What Health Canada does about Breast Cancer

In 1993, Health Canada helped launch the Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative (CBCI), along with the provincial and territorial governments, health care professionals, scientists, breast cancer survivors and support groups. This initiative set priorities and directions for research; prevention; screening; surveillance and monitoring; treatment; community capacity; and public and professional education. A renewed commitment to the CBCI in 1998 ensured ongoing and stable funding.

Why so you want to do something about Breast Cancer?

I want to do something about Breast Cancer because I have a grandmother that has died from it and a great aunt that currently has it. I have no wish to get it and I don't want any one else suffering from it. Why do you want to help?

 

Breast Cancer World Map

Breast Cancer Site

The Breast Cancer site is an online site where 1 click gives 1 free mamogram. I encourage you g\to go to this site and click as many times as you want.

Take Action!!!

Hey everyone,

Rememember how I told you that my grandmother died from Breast Cancer. Well this weekend, I found out that my Great Aunt Jean is diagnosed with Breast Cancer. I have met her before. She is lively and full of energy. It is a shame she is diagnosed with Breast Cancer, She has a husband, 3 daughters and  3 grandchildren. I hope this inspires you to raise money and take action against Breast Cancer.

 

Poem of Hope

For Cancer is so limited-

It can not cripple love

It can not shatter hope

It can not corrode faith

It can not destroy peace

It can not kill friendship

It can not surpass memories

It can not silence courage

It can not invade the soul

It can not steal God's gift of internal life

It can not quench the holy spirit

It can not lessen the power of resurrection

-Author Unknown

Fundraising ideas for Breast Cancer

1. Bake Sale
2. Pink your hair
3. Hot Chocolate sale
4. Lemonade stand
5. Door to Door Donations
6. Chocolate Sales
7. Put on a Performance and donate ticket money to breast cancer

If anyone has any other ideas please let me know

A song

A song I heard on the radio... that is think fills you with hope is

 I run for life by Melissa Ethridge

They played this song at Edmonton's CIBC Run for the Cure... and it made me feel so proud that i was doing this.

How to Reduce your risk of breast cancer

According to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation to reduce your risk of Breast Cancer....

• Do not be overweight
• Exercise often
• Be aware of your alcohol consumption
• Don't smoke (kinda obvious)
• Maintain a healthy diet

Try!!!

Run For The Cure Results

For the 2010 Run For the Cure Canadians raised 33 million dollars for  Breast Cancer Reasearch!!! That is a new record. Congratualtions Canada!! This money will go to Breast Cancer reasearch in hopes of finding a cure......

We had 170000 runners in 60 different communities....

Common Myths about Breast Cancer

1. It is all down to genes, so no point managing the risk
2. Certain foods like red meat increases breast cancer risk
3. A lump or pain in the breast is the sign of breast cancer
4. Hormone Replacement Theory does no harm
5. Only masses of excerise reduce breast cancer risk

Nicotine feeds growth of breast cancer tumors

Nicotine is not just addictive, but may actually promote the development of breast cancer, according to a study conducted by researchers from Taipei Medical University and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Tobacco products are known to contain at least 60 chemicals that cause cancer, but up until now nicotine had not been classified as one of them. Nicotine, the chemical that makes tobacco products addictive, is produced by plants as a natural insecticide.

"Every time a person smokes, he or she inhales more than 4,000 different chemicals, including nicotine," writes Phyllis A. Balch in the book Prescription for Nutritional Healing, 4th Edition.

"Nicotine, which is extremely addictive, increases levels of the pleasure-inducing brain chemicals serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. ... Nicotine acts as a stimulant on the central nervous system. When nicotine is ingested, adrenaline production increases, raising the blood pressure and heart rate."

The new study "suggests ... that nicotine could directly contribute to the molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis in addition to indirectly contributing by promoting addiction to smoking," wrote Ilona Linnoila of the Center for Cancer Research at the National Cancer Institute in an accompanying editorial.

The researchers exposed both healthy and cancerous breast tissue to nicotine. They found that cancerous cells had more receptors for the chemical than healthy cells did, and that nicotine exposure increased the risk that normal cells would turn cancerous.

The study raises concerns over the safety of nicotine-based smoking cessation aids such as nicotine gum, patches and inhalers.

Smoking is considered the foremost avoidable cause of disability, disease and death in the United States. In addition to causing 90 percent of lung cancer cases, cigarette smoke increases the risk of birth defects, miscarriage, lung disorders and cardiovascular disease. Secondhand smoke alone kills 38,000 people per year.

More Facts about Breast Cancer

An estimated 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2000.
Approximately 42,200 deaths will occur in women from breast cancer in 2000.
One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
Breast cancer risk increases with age and every woman is at risk.
Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.

Signs

The Canadian Cancer Society recommends the following guidelines:

• Women between the ages of 50 to 69 have a mammogram every two years.

o If you are between the ages of 40 and 49, discuss your risk of breast cancer and the benefits and risks of mammography with your doctor.
o If you are 70 or older, talk to your doctor about a screening program for you.

• Have a clinical breast examination by a trained health professional at least every two years if you are over the age of 40.
• Get to know your breasts. Talk to your doctors about any changes.

Breast Cancer Trends

This is a breast cancer trend for 1984-1994. I know it is a little old but it shows you how much people are affected by breast cancer

1 a Minute- The Breast Cancer survivor movie

1 a minute reflects the horrific fact that breast cancer takes the life of a woman every 69 minutes. The docudrama is directed by Indo-American actress Namrata Singh Gujral who is a breast cancer survivor. The film reflects Gujral's life as she is diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.