What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease in which certain cells in the breast grow out of control. These cells accumulate into tumors and can affect different areas of the breast in both women and men, though women are affected much more frequently than men. When the cancerous cells in the breast spread throughout the body via the blood or lymph vessels, it is said to have metastasized, which often results in a worse long-term outlook for the patient.
The symptoms associated with breast cancer vary. These include:
- A lump or lumps in the breast or armpit
- Thickening or swelling of the breast tissue
- Irritated or dimpled skin on the breast
- Redness, flakiness and deformities to the nipple
- Pain and changes to the size or shape of the breast
Who is affected by breast cancer?
A very large proportion of those diagnosed with breast cancer are women. About 1 in 8 American women, which roughly translates to 12 percent, will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. Men’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 883.
What are the causes?
It’s been a hot topic in the news lately that scientists have uncovered a breast cancer “gene.” Those genes are known as BRCA1 and BRCA2, and are mutations you can inherit from your mother or father. About 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are caused by these inheritable mutations, and women who are diagnosed with breast cancer as a result of these genes tend to get it much earlier in life. However, around 85 percent of breast cancer cases occur as a means of random mutations, meaning there is no inheritable gene scientists can point to for a majority of breast cancer cases.
There are some risk factors for breast cancer, such as growing older, taking certain medications and menopause. However, many people don’t know the link between breast cancer and pregnancy. Women who have their first full-term pregnancy much earlier in life are at a markedly decreased chance at developing breast cancer. That means if you had your first child when you were 25 or younger, you are much less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than a woman who had her first child after 25. This is likely due to hormonally induced changes to the breast tissue serving as a protective mechanism against random mutations in the cells, which are known to cause cancer.
Make an Impact
Approximately 300,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. To date this year in Arizona, more than 5,600 new cases have been reported*. While the incidence rate has increased generally over the last few decades, the number of people losing their battles with breast cancer have been decreasing significantly in the last few years. Having the latest advancements in treatment available is helping in the fight.
Community support for the $2 million Cancer-Fighting Treatment and Care Advancement Initiative in Sun Health Foundation’s Generosity for Generations Campaign will continue to ensure superior cancer care services are available for women of all ages and across many generations in our community.
Read on to learn about how you can make an impact.
Breast cancer and women’s health services go hand in hand. Read on to learn more about how you can make an impact on these two areas in our community.
Two ways to support women’s health care in our community
Women’s health challenges, including breast cancer, can impact a family in a deep and powerful way. In some way or another, women’s health services and cancer care advancements can benefit every family, across each generation in our community. Supporting the Generosity for Generations Campaign will benefit the care women will receive today, tomorrow and for future generations..
1. Cancer Fighting Treatment and Care Advancement
Our goal is to raise $2 million to support breast cancer care and treatment at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center and lung cancer care and treatment at Banner Boswell Medical Center. With your generous support, we will implement facility renovations and improvements, and state-of-the-art technology and equipment to better serve cancer patients. We also aim to increase our capacity to care for more cancer patients, utilize innovative and less-invasive diagnostic technologies and centralize our care in a hub-and-spoke efficient care model.
Read more about the Cancer Fighting Treatment and Care Advancement initiative
2. Service Enhancements for Women and Infants
Supporting this $2 million investment in women’s health at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center ultimately benefits everyone in our West Valley communities. Services are expanding to sustain the needs of maternity and neonatal care in a growing community population. Enhancements in care include a new obstetrical unit, increasing the number of beds for mothers and infants, and developing a new recovery unit for new mothers.
Read more about the Service Enhancements for Women and Infants initiative.
Ways to promote life-saving treatment and care
Promoting women’s health care in the community is a vital and critical step towards improving care for all. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are asking if you feel moved to donate, to consider directing your donations to one of Sun Health Foundations fundraising initiatives.
If you would like to make a donation, our skilled and compassionate Directors of Philanthropy are available to discuss your options. Contact us today to learn more about how you can make an impact on our community for generations to come.
*American Cancer Society, Cancer Statistics Center 2019
