HoosierTimes Breast Cancer Awareness 2013

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

“Raising Awareness Through Education”

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October brings fund-raising walks and even more pink ribbons than usual, so it’s virtually impossible to ignore Breast Cancer Awareness Month. What draws the

big crowds to walks and fundraisers, however, is fear: Fear of receiving a breast cancer diagnosis yourself or in your family; fear that you’ll lose another person close to you to the disease; or fear that, if you are a survivor, the disease may recur.

One antidote is know-ing that help is available should any of those fears come true. In 12 years as a breast cancer survivor, I’ve encountered health care professionals and sur-vivors-turned-activists, all of whom have turned fear into life’s greatest motiva-

tor by arming themselves and those in their care with information.

If you don’t already know the numbers, they are part of the October litany. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States (lung cancer is first) and the most frequently diag-nosed cancer among U.S. females (excluding skin cancer). In 2011, more than 230,000 women were diag-nosed with invasive breast cancer, and 39,520 died of

the disease. Breast cancer also occurs in about 2,000 U.S. men a year.

You’ve probably heard that one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. Your risk increases as you get older: Your risk is one in 1,790 in your 20s, one in 229 in your 30s, one in 69 in your 40s, one in 42 in your 50s, one in 29 in your 60s and one in 27 in your 70s. So you can see that age is a risk factor: The older you get, the more your risk increases.

The good news is that there are more than

2.6 million breast cancer survivors in this country, and mortality rates have been on a slight downward trend since 2003.

Even if you do turn out to be one of those numbers, don’t panic. It’s natural to be rooted to the ground in fear when a medical professional tells you that you have breast cancer, but this is no time to be immobile. Doctors expect you to participate in the many decisions you face, and you’ll have to educate

Month one of hope, spirit and fi ght in a war

Gena Asher, now marking her 12th year as a breast cancer survivor, was honored in 2007 with the Melody Martin Awareness Saves Lives Award for development of a blog devoted to breast cancer education. Asher is shown here facing the camera as she receives the award and a hug from the daughter of the woman in whose memory the award was established. Asher also is author of the story that begins on this page.

By Gena AsherSpecial to the H-T

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SEE FIGHT | PAGE F4

DAVID SNODGRESS | HERALD-TIMES

Pink is the color for the fi ght against breast cancer as shown during the 2011 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at Karst Farm Park.

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Meet Lisa Korff, MD IU Health Morgan Hospital Cancer Center is proud

to welcome Lisa R. Korff, MD, to our team. A

fellowship-trained breast surgeon, Dr. Korff is

recognized as an expert for her ability to provide

specialized diagnostic and treatment options

for patients with benign and malignant breast diseases. She has

completed training in breast imaging, pathology, surgery and genetics.

Dr. Korff is available to consult with all patients with suspected breast

disease or cancer.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Korff, please call 765.349.6792.

IU Health Morgan Hospital2209 John R Wooden Drive | Martinsville, IN

iuhealth.org/morgan© 2013 IU Health 9.13 IUHMH 13217

Early Detection Saves Lives.

Schedule Your Mammogram Today.

Imagine… A future with less cancer. A future

that, because of advanced technologies and

the skill and experience of dedicated healthcare

professionals, offers better outcomes for

survival. Indiana University Health gives those

in South Central Indiana access to innovative

cancer services. The IU Health Cancer Centers

are more than one building in one location. We

are a collection of facilities and multidisciplinary

teams of specialists bringing patients a

collaborative approach to the treatment of

cancer. And, patients have access to research,

clinical trials and alternative treatment options

through the IU Health Melvin and Bren Simon

Cancer Center as well as the Indiana University

Health Proton Therapy Center.

Together, the IU Health Cancer Centers stand

strong with you in the fight against cancer.

THE STRENGTH IT TAKES

A Powerful Partner in the Fight Against Cancer

When you need specialized breast care, we provide it.

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yourself. Medical facilities offer

resources that range from patient navigators or guides to access to printed and Web-based materials to less structured programs and services. IU Health Bloomington’s Olcott Cen-ter for Cancer Education offers all three, starting with certified oncology nurses who also are patient guides.

“A woman who is diag-nosed at SIRA (South-ern Indiana Radiological Associates), for example, will see one of our patient guides within minutes of hearing she has breast cancer,” said Janice Ross, director of the Olcott Cen-ter. “The guide talks with her, shows her a booklet with a timeline and other information, and begins a relationship that goes on throughout treatment.”

An Olcott nurse will call within 48 hours to make sure the patient has sched-

uled appointments and to answer any questions, she said. Sometimes, women come to the center before

that time if they have ques-tions or concerns.

Information also comes in the form of second or third opinions. When you are panicked by a diagnosis, you naturally want to hurry toward fixing the problem, but take time to talk to other medical people. If all have the same analysis of your situation, you’ll feel confi-dent. If they have varying opinions, you’ll need to weigh all the advice against your own information and feelings. As a consumer, I always get three estimates for any kinds of repair work, so why would I not get sev-eral opinions from profes-sionals with whom I would entrust my life?

Regardless of who is on your team, your case prob-ably will be part of a weekly discussion among cancer professionals in the area. In Bloomington, medical pro-fessionals involved in can-cer treatment meet weekly

to discuss patients, ensur-ing coordination of each patient’s treatment. This way, by the time a patient moves to the next doctor for the next part of treat-ment, that doctor already has files and records. Even

12 years ago, this system was in place. Though I had already mapped out my own time line, I was reas-sured when a doctor called me to make sure I had an appointment to begin his part of the treatment.

When you don’t have a guide by your side, take along a trusted friend to your appointments. When you are the patient, you may hear one or two scary words that highjack your ability to concentrate for a minute or two. The trusted friend provides an extra set of ears for moments like these. If you don’t have a friend to take along, take a recorder so you can listen later to all the details you may have missed.

You won’t be able to make all the decisions at once, anyway. In some cases, treatment decisions hinge on the tumor prop-erties and other data not available until after biopsy or surgery. While it is a good idea to look ahead at the big picture, try not to anticipate the possible outcomes that might happen. You’ll have information overload, and some of those scenarios may never occur, yet you’ve

FIGHTMonth one of hopeCONTINUED FROM PAGE F2

MONTY HOWELL | HERALD-TIMES

Lily Roberts waits in a stroller with her family and walkers assembling for the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk at Showers Plaza in 2009.

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Breast cancer survivor Gena Asher maintains her breast cancer website at www.breastcancerfyi.org.


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Help support the Help support the Help support the Help support the Help support the many organizations in many organizations in many organizations in many organizations in many organizations in our community with our community with our community with our community with our community with

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wasted time and energy worrying about them.

Most south-central Indi-ana communities have can-cer support groups available, some specifically for breast cancer and some for people with any kind of cancer. No matter how many friends and relatives are helping you, you’ll find comfort in talking with people who have been through what you are facing. Initially, I figured support groups were for people who didn’t have anyone else in their lives, and I guessed that the whole scenario would be a Pity Party of the first order.

Instead, I found a set of instant friends, women who bluntly shared their advice and warnings about treatment and procedures as well as their emotional worries about their families and jobs. You are joining an exclusive club, and while no one wants to be a member, the support group experi-ence can be enriching on many levels.

Some women find the group experience helps them evolve from fright-

ened cancer patients to comforting counselors for the next wave of newly diagnosed.

Ross said women in treatment and survivors attend the center’s twice-monthly breast cancer support groups. Churches, community groups and individuals in south central Indiana also host support groups for breast cancer. You are likely to find one that suits your outlook by networking with Ross, medical practitioners or organizations such as the American Cancer Society, Komen Race for the Cure affiliates or Pink Ribbon Connection.

Not into the whole group thing? Talk to a patient guide, social worker or nurse one-on-one. Network to find someone whose expertise and outlook you value.

Or, tap into programs that aren’t support groups but are groups of people in similar situations. The YMCA co-sponsors the WISE program for cancer patients who wish to stay

fit during and after treat-ment. Working out under supervision in a program tailor-made just for you is valuable to making a come-back from cancer; doing so with other patients and survivors provides an oasis in a storm.

Hopefully, you won’t ever join the ranks of the breast cancer patient population.

Ross reminds women that the best prevention is a healthy lifestyle and to know your body. When something feels wrong, get checked, she says.

In the meantime, lace up your shoes for October’s fundraisers.

The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is Oct. 12, and the Blooming-ton Breast Cancer Aware-ness Walk is Oct. 19.

More infoFor more on Bloomington’s Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, go to http://siraonline.com/walk.htm

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Hands joined in circle together hold a breast cancer struggle symbol.


In this picture from 2008, physician Bruce Monson explains new digital mammography equip-ment at Bloomington Hospital that provides a sharper, more clear view of the patient’s breast tissue. Both that hospital, now IU Health Bloomington Hospital, and Monroe Hospital have incorporated such new technology to assist in detecting breast cancer as early as possible, a critical factor in saving lives.

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When a friend or rel-ative is diagnosed with cancer, what do you say? Ignore the elephant in the room and talk about anything but cancer? Ask what may be insensitive questions?

A book published ear-lier this year offers advice for those helping a friend or loved one navigate the cancer maze.

“When Cancer Strikes a Friend” was 10 years in the making, and aims to be a handbook for those who want to help in caring and meaningful ways the can-cer patients in their lives. It

includes chapters on com-munication techniques; understanding cancer and the patient experience; gifts and sharing; “every-day, nitty-gritty help”; and spiritual care.

Author and former Bloomington resident Bonnie Draeger and her colleagues conceived the idea when her close friend died of breast cancer at 37.

Draeger is co-founder and director of the non-profit In Marjolein’s Mem-ory, also known as Friends & Cancer, a public char-ity dedicated to creating materials to prepare and encourage friends to help and support people with cancer.

Draeger and Friends & Cancer colleagues first surveyed focus groups around the country to determine if such a book was necessary and, if so, what format it should fol-low. Draeger drew on her experiences as a writer and as an ordained deacon

in the United Methodist Church.

She enlisted help from pros with expertise, including oncologists, plastic surgeons, counsel-ors and therapists. But she also includes contribu-tions from cartoonist Dave Coverly, a father-daughter cancer advocacy team and an ordained Zen Buddhist priest. The book features a glossary of cancer terms and several listings for sug-gested readings.

Four Bloomington peo-ple contributed chapters: Gena Asher of BreastCan-cerFYI.org, on using the Web responsibly and find-ing credible cancer infor-mation; Janice Ross of the Indiana University Bloom-ington Health Olcott Cen-ter for Cancer Education, on what to say at certain points in the friend’s can-cer timeline; Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin, IU health sciences professor who has taught a popular course on cancer, on physi-cal effects of cancer and its treatment; and Peg Stice, co-founder of Friends & Cancer and chairwoman of the board of directors, on becoming a cancer advocate.

The organization donat-ed 2,000 copies to cancer centers and libraries when it was published in October 2012. It is available through most online book outlets as well as on the Friends & Cancer website, www.friendsandcancer.org.

Friend’s death inspires productionof handbook on how to help outSpecial to the H-T

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Pink bursts out all over the Indiana University campus as the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer Run and Walk, which raises money for local medical research and equipment, approaches every year.

At the age of 12 to 15, many young women are experiencing the body and life changes that accompany adolescence. It can be difficult to imag-ine that breasts that are just beginning to develop may contain cancer. But such is the reality for some girls.

The majority of wom-en who receive a breast cancer diagnosis are 40 or older. Experts at Mon-roe Carell Jr. Hospital at Vanderbilt University note that only 5 percent of breast cancer cases are found in women younger than 40. However, the hospital recently treated a 14-year-old girl who found a lump and learned she had a rare form of breast cancer called a phyllodes

tumor. Though such cases are rare, it behooves teen-age and adolescent girls to familiarize themselves with the disease and be mindful of their breast health.

Some organizations have increased breast can-cer messages for young girls and even conduct breast cancer workshops to educate young women about breast health. Doro-thy Paterson of Texas, a former Girl Scout leader who was diagnosed with breast cancer herself, began conducting work-shops for Girl Scouts in 2007. The idea isn’t to scare girls into believing they have the disease, but rather to increase their awareness of changes in their bodies that may or may not be normal.

Metro Creative Connection

Breast cancer a concern for young

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If you are walking or running for breast cancer this fall, chances are you are supporting IU Blooming-ton Health’s Olcott Center for Cancer Education, a frequent recipient of the efforts of such events.

Hoosiers Outrun Cancer, held Sept. 28, is one of the main sources of funding, and other walks, such as Bloomington Breast Can-cer Awareness Walk, often donate funds generated by sponsors or participants to the center or the center’s Girlfriend Fund.

Olcott director Jan-ice Ross said such sup-port means the center can expand and adapt its servic-es to accommodate cancer patients’ needs.

“We are 100 percent funded through the Bloom-ington Hospital Founda-tion, through donations from community,” Ross said. “All of the money stays locally to take care of patients in our area.”

Those patients include about 800 newly diagnosed cancer patients each year, 100 of whom are breast cancer patients, as well as people who have been using the center’s services for several years, such as

those with chronic condi-tions or survivor issues.

Hoosiers Outrun Cancer raises about $180,000 per year. But smaller events, such as golf and euchre tournaments, and individ-ual donations also generate funds to support program-ming.

The center has expand-ed that programming in the past two years. When Beautiful Creations, which had long supplied mastec-tomy supplies, went out of business, Olcott nurses trained to become certified fitters to bring the service to the center. Education programs on various topics, expanded support groups and a wig bank also take space at the center, housed in a First Street building south of the hospital.

Other services include outreach, taking cancer education on the road to fairs and events where Olcott nurses share pre-vention tips, and visiting schools to educate teens on cancer.

Ross said recent focus has been to identify barri-ers in the way of patients continuing treatment. The Girlfriend Fund, estab-lished a decade ago by a cancer survivor to fill gaps for patients who can’t afford

wigs or other incidentals, has become a safety net for many.

“The goal of the fund is to help people get through treatment, and we’re find-ing that this means gas cards in a lot of cases,” Ross said. “We don’t want transportation to be a bar-rier to treatment. This is a nationwide problem in cancer care.”

Other people may have needs not met by insurance, such as wigs or prostheses, and the center relies on the Girlfriend Fund for these.

On her wish list are an educational series that would bring guest speak-ers to talk about nutrition and sexuality, common concerns for patients, and programs that use art and music as therapy or ave-nues of self-expression for cancer patients.

“We have to value pro-grams that may not bring in revenue but are the right things to do for patients,” Ross said.

By Gena AsherSpecial to the H-T

Olcott Center invaluable community resource


Participants in the Breast Cancer Awareness Walk march down the sidewalk on Kirkwood Avenue in November 2010. The group walked past the courthouse to Sample Gates and back to Showers for the event.

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IU Bloomington Health’s Olcott Center offers many services including helping fi t women after they have a mastectomy.

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To Our Community:Dr. Lisa Jerrells and Kathy Pafford LME would like to introduce our Women in Need program. Do you know a woman in your life who is battling cancer, or who is going through a divorce, or just a rough time in her life and needs some support? Have you ever experienced hard times yourself and appreciated support of your friends and family? Now, you can give back.

If you purchase a gift of $350 for a woman in need, she will receive expert care at the hands of Kathy Pafford, licensed medical aesthetician. The gift can be used toward epionce products, microdermabrasion, chemical peel, facial, and botox, as long as the client is not undergoing chemotherapy. A portion of proceeds will be donated to an appropriate charity that benefits women in need each year.

Please call us today to be a part of this program: (812) 334-2772.

Sincerely,Dr. JerrellsKathy Pafford LMECarol Wellman, team member

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Have a health question?Ask a local health professional—join INstride’s monthly live chat and participate in the discussion. Visit myinstride.com/chat to submit your questions, follow the conversation, or read transcripts of past chats. Like INstride on Facebook to learn more.

Learn. Heal. Live.

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Early detection of can-cer greatly increases a person’s odds of surviv-ing this potentially deadly disease.

Screening can range from relatively simple self-examinations to more complicated procedures conducted by physicians. The following are the widely accepted screen-ing guidelines, courtesy of the American Cancer Society.

Breast cancerWomen should begin

self-examinations of their breasts starting in their 20s. This helps women familiarize themselves with their breasts early on, which makes it easier to detect any abnormali-ties, including lumps, later in life.

In addition to breast self-exams, women should receive clinical breast exams, or CBEs, every three years while in their 20s and 30s, and then an annual CBE starting at age 40. The ACS also rec-ommends women begin receiving annual mam-mograms starting at age 40. Some doctors may also recommend women with a family history of breast cancer or other significant risk factors receive an MRI in addition to a mammo-gram. These additional tests are rarely necessary, but women at a higher risk of breast cancer should

discuss their options with their physicians.

Colorectal cancer and polyps

Men and women should begin screening for col-orectal cancer and polyps beginning at age 50. Polyps are growths on the inner surface of the colon that are often noncancerous, but some can develop into cancer.

Some tests may be con-ducted to find both polyps and cancer, and these tests should be conducted at various intervals. Begin-ning at age 50, men and women should get a flex-ible sigmoidoscopy every five years, a colonoscopy every 10 years, a double-contrast barium enema every five years, or a CT colonography, also known as a virtual colonoscopy, every five years. When tests other than a colonos-copy are positive, then a colonoscopy should be conducted as well.

Testing can also be con-ducted to detect colorectal cancer. Beginning at age 50, men and women should receive an annual fecal occult blood test or a year-ly fecal immunochemical test. When results are posi-tive, a colonoscopy should be conducted.

Lung cancerDespite the prevalence

of lung cancer, the ACS advises against screenings for lung cancer in people whose risk for developing the disease is average. But the ACS does recommend screenings for those indi-viduals who are at high risk for the disease. These

include men and women who meet all of the follow-ing criteria: 55 to 74 years of age; in fairly good health; have at least a 30 pack-year smoking history and are either still smoking or have quit smoking within the past 15 years.

More information about lung cancer screening is available at www.cancer.org.

Endometrial (uterine) cancer

According to the ACS, at the time of menopause all women should discuss the risks and symptoms of endometrial cancer, often referred to as uterine can-cer.

Detection often begins with women themselves, who should report any bleeding or spotting to their physicians immedi-ately upon detection.

Some women may be candidates for yearly endometrial biopsies. This includes women who have hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer, or HNPCC, a condition also known as Lynch syndrome.

Women known to carry HNPCC-linked gene muta-tions are also candidates. Women from families with a tendency to get colon cancer where genetic testing has not been done also are candidates for yearly endometrial biop-sies. These yearly biopsies should begin at age 35, and women should discuss the risks, benefits and limita-tions of the tests with their physicians.

More information on cancer screenings is avail-able at www.cancer.org.

Screening, early detection can help to save your lifeAmerican Cancer Society shares its guidelinesMetro Creative Connection

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A radiology technician examines a mammography image.

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MARTINSVILLE — There was a time that the cure for breast cancer was simply barbaric, said Dr. Lisa Korff, a fellowship trained breast surgeon at Indiana University Health Morgan Hospital.

“Breast cancer treat-ment has come a long way,” Korff said. “There was a time when the treatment was a radical mastectomy. That was disfiguring and morbid.”

Radical mastectomies were performed as a treat-ment for breast cancer as early as the late 19th century, according to the American Cancer Soci-ety’s website.

In such surgery, the sur-

geon removes the breast, chest muscle and under-arm lymph nodes.

Radical mastectomies stopped being the stan-dard of care in the 1940s with modified radical mastectomies that spared the muscles. The proce-dure continued to evolve with lumpectomies in the 1970s and varying degrees of radiation and chemo-therapy.

The goal of these chang-es has been to increase the survival rates and decrease the recurrence rates for breast cancer, Korff said. “We found that the more radical approach wasn’t always necessary, and we can do things that will be just as effective.”

Radiation increased survival rates as early

as the turn of the 20th century, according to the American Cancer Soci-ety’s website. Radiation was used to shrink cancer-ous tumors prior to remov-ing them. Today, much more targeted radiation is still used.

Chemotherapy was introduced in the 1940s. It decreased the size of tumors pre-surgery, but it was also used afterwards to prevent recurrence and treat cancer that had metastasized.

The evolution of breast cancer treatment has got-ten more and more indi-vidualized, Korff said.

“The treatment for one person might be very dif-ferent than for another; in fact, it likely will be dif-ferent,” she said. “We take

into account the biology of a tumor, where it has spread and many other factors.

“More and more can be done on a molecular level to address cancers these days.”

New therapiesKorff said selective

estrogen receptor modi-fiers, aromatase inhibitors and targeted hormonal therapies also have dra-matically changed breast cancer treatment and increased survival rates.

Selective estrogen receptor modifiers fight cancers that need estrogen to grow by limiting the ability of estrogen to enter the cancer cell, according to the American Cancer Society.

Aromatase inhibitors are for post-menopausal women and work by reduc-ing the estrogen available to cancer cells. Targeted hormonal therapies use a drug that binds to a par-ticular form of breast can-cer that has too much of the HER2/neu protein on its surface. It destroys the cancer cells, but very little healthy tissue. Herceptin paired with chemotherapy cuts recurrence of HER2/neu-positive breast cancer by 50 percent.

The most successful tool for helping women survive breast cancer, however, is earlier detec-tion, Korff said.

“Screenings have helped us find breast can-cers at an early stage,” Korff said. “We are seeing women who come to us in much earlier stages when treatments can be more effective.”

Some of that is because more people are getting

Lisa KorffPhysician and surgeon Lisa

Korff

Joined Indiana University Health in 2012.

Is fellowship-trained breast surgeon with additional train-ing in breast imagine pathol-ogy, surgery and genetics.

Provides specialized diag-nostic and treatment options for patients with benign and malignant breast diseases.

Originally from the rural Evansville area, Korff earned undergraduate and medical degrees from Indiana University

Residency at Carl T. Hayden

VA Medical Center in Phoenix; following residency, worked there for three years.

One-year specialized breast surgery fellowship at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Goal: To help patients beyond just curing their cancer.

“There’s a lot to go through, not just physically, but emotionally as well,” Korff said. “There are a lot of issues afterwards that deal with survivorship — such as, have they learned about diet or exercise as well as intimacy and sexual health.”

Breast cancer treatment light years beyond early daysBy Brian [email protected]

SEE TREATMENT | PAGE F11

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National Breast Cancer Awareness Day

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screened and are follow-ing guidelines set by the American Cancer Society, which is to get a mammo-gram every year after the age of 40. But some of that is also because of advances in mammography.

Since the 1950s, advanc-es in mammography are credited with increasing the five-year survival rate for localized breast cancer from 80 percent to 98 per-cent the American Cancer Society reports. Standard mammograms became popular in 1967 with X-ray equipment made specifi-cally for that purpose.

Digital mammography was introduced in the ear-ly 1990s and offers more detailed images and easier storage for future compari-sons.

Three-D mammography is the newest technology. It produces clearer images and pinpoints more cancers and might someday lead to recommendation that the frequency of mammograms should be reduced by half, the American Cancer Soci-ety says on its website.

What’s to comeThe future of breast can-

cer treatment really lies in the area of genetics and in studies that look at people who are being treated and have been treated and how they react to those treat-ments, Korff said.

“We have to give thanks to patients who participate in clinical trials,” Korff said. “That’s how we learn how to improve breast cancer care. It wouldn’t happen if people weren’t willing to participate.”

Many of those trials look at individual cancers and the specific proteins they

produce, Korff said. Genetic testing also

now allows doctors to pin-point people who are more susceptible to developing breast cancer.

And some clinical trials are specifically looking at preventing and treating cancer on the celullar and genetic level.

According to an article by researcher Kathy Boltz in the Oncology Nurse Advisor, “Cellular therapy is a type of immunotherapy that uses T cells, the ‘foot soldiers’ of the immune system, which have been sensitized in the laboratory to kill breast cancer cells. These sensitized T cells are injected into the parts of the brain to which cancer has spread. The research shows that the T cells can move through tissue and recognize and directly kill the tumor cells.

“With the gene therapy, genetically modified can-cer cells are killed by a drug called 5-flurocytosine (5-FC). To get the gene into the cancer cells, the researchers first insert it into a virus that can infect the tumor cells. After the virus has infected the cells, nontoxic 5-FC is given to the patient. Tumor cells infected by the virus con-vert the nontoxic drug to a toxic form that kills the cancer cells. Professor Noriyuki Kasahara in the department of medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles developed the gene therapy method in his laboratory.”

Both experimental ther-apies are being tested indi-vidually in ongoing clinical trials for primary malignant brain tumors; this pres-ents a unique opportunity for the rapid translation of these technologies from the laboratory to the clinic for breast and other types of cancer that metastasize to the brain, the research-ers said.

TREATMENTResearch moving toward genetic linksCONTINUED FROM PAGE F10

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The mammogram is a critical tool in early detection of breast cancer, which is most effectively treated early in its growth.

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Few, if any, families can say they have never had an experience with cancer. While cancer can be treat-ed effectively, there is no way for men and women to eliminate their risk of developing cancer.

Though cancer may strike even the healthiest of persons, there are ways men, women and even children can reduce their risk. One such way is to consume certain foods that researchers feel can reduce cancer risk.

Though precisely how these foods fight cancer remains a mystery, cancer researchers believe they can effectively lower an individual’s cancer risk when combined to form a healthy diet.

Beans: Beans boast numerous healthy attri-butes, and their potential to reduce cancer risk is one such attribute. Beans contain many phytochem-icals that researchers believe protect the cells from the type of damage that can ultimately make a person susceptible to cancer. Beans also have

been shown to decelerate tumor growth and pre-vent tumors from releas-ing potentially harmful substances that can dam-age nearby cells.

Colorful fruits and vegetables: It may seem odd that a food’s color can have an impact on cancer risk, but colorful fruits and vegetables con-tain more cancer-fighting nutrients than fruits and vegetables that aren’t as flashy. Consuming such fruits and vegetables also helps men and women maintain a healthy body weight, an important benefit when considering extra weight or obesity can increase a person’s risk for multiple cancers.

Foods with folate: Folate is a B vitamin that can reduce a person’s risk of developing several cancers, including those of the colon, rectum and breast. Those who are fond of a healthy break-fast to begin their day may already be getting healthy doses of folate, which can be found in eggs, fortified breakfast cereals, orange juice and

strawberries, among oth-er foods. If toast is your breakfast of choice, opt for whole wheat toast, as whole wheat products are a good source of folate.

Grapes: Studies have shown that resveratrol, a key ingredient in grapes, may prevent the type of damage that triggers the production of cancerous cells. Though scientists are not yet comfortable saying grapes, or bever-ages like grape juice and wine, can reduce cancer risk, they believe that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of grapes make them a healthy option.

Water: Water may not qualify as a food, but it may protect people from bladder cancer. Potential cancer-causing agents in the bladder are diluted when drinking water. In addition, the more water you drink, the more fre-quently you’re likely to urinate, which means cancer-causing agents have less time to come into contact with the lin-ing of your bladder.

Fighting cancer with foodMetro Creative Connection

COURTESY PHOTO

Eating lots of fruits and vegetables as part of a low-fat diet is something that has been found to help reduce the risk of developing cancer.

F12F12

Think Pink

Babs- You are a survivor -

- Keeping yourself busy at the Beauty

Salon - Your daily power walks

- Your many friends and church

prayer groups

- Such a blessing and we believe in the

power of prayer.Love, with a prayer.

Mother and Family

Denise (Sis) Whitted

You are a survivor!

You fought the fight and kept

the faith.Love you so much,

Dad & Mom

RememberingSusie Johnsonwhose love for her familyand her church familygave us Precious Memories. Leah

Carole BrilesCongratulations on 23 years of

celebrating life. You are a survivor!

Each day is a precious gift

wrapped in possibilities.

Continue to enjoy and live each day to

the fullest.Hugs and Love from your pals,

Sharon, Minnie, Sandy,and Marilyn

In Honor of my Sister,Linda ConnorsShe fought like a girland won! Love you,

JoEllen &The “Pinkettes”

In Memory Of Carolyn MannWe lost Carolyn to cancer after a very painful 4 months. Carolyn was a very kind

and talented person.We miss and love her so much.

Husband Jim, Children- Cathy, Tami, Cherie & Julie, Grandchildren, Sister-In-Law Cheryl, Aunt Jakie, and their cat and dogs that she & Jim

adopted that she loved and was so kind to

Tonya -You have shown us all how prayers are answered.Your faith and courage are an inspiration to all of us.We love you more than words can sayJason, Brittany,Jeff, and Rhonda

In Honor of Our Mommy, a Strong Survivor!In Honor of Our Mommy, a Strong Survivor!In Honor of Our Mommy, a Strong Survivor!In Honor of Our Mommy, a Strong Survivor!Tootie Skaggs I was sad for her and scared for her. I want to thank the doctors and nurses for

helping my mommy. I love my mommy! ~SydneyI want to thank the doctors who helped my mother. With me being in preschool

and kindergarten, I want to also thank my elementary teacher, Mrs. Heck, my

elementary principal, Mrs. Gearheart. I also want to send a million thank yous

to the Morgan County Cancer Center for helping my family when times were

tough. I love you, Mom! ~ SpencerI was scared, I felt bad and was afraid my mom would die. I want to thank the

doctors for helping my mommy get better. I love my mom! I love how she laughs

and smiles! I love how she loves me. ~Sadie

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CLEARWATER, Fla. — Dr. Peter Blumencranz knows the scientific case against aggressively treating certain precancerous conditions. But he also knows what can happen in an exam room.

He tells a patient with ductal car-cinoma in situ (DCIS) — often called “stage-zero breast cancer” — that she shouldn’t panic. A few abnormal cells are lodged in a milk duct and may never grow into a dangerous cancer. He tells her she has options — but no guarantees. For some patients, that’s not enough.

“They’ll say, ‘This has tied me up so much. ... I just want my breasts off. I don’t want to deal with it again,’” said Blumencranz, a surgical oncolo-gist and medical director of the Mor-ton Plant Mease Comprehensive Breast Program. “I try to talk them out of (mastectomy), but sometimes it’s hard.”

Such interactions between doc-tors and patients illustrate the com-plexity of the growing debate about how to deal with conditions that may — or may not — become a deadly cancer.

A group of prominent experts advising the National Cancer Insti-tute concluded recently that screen-ing for certain cancers — breast,

prostate, lung and thyroid — has detected many abnormalities that aren’t dangerous and don’t require treatment. In such cases, the che-motherapy, radiation and radical surgeries can be worse than the disease they are trying to prevent, the scientists wrote in an article pub-lished in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Post mastectomy, women may face extensive reconstructive sur-gery or emotional anguish. Some can develop painful lymphedema. All surgeries carry risks such as infections, reactions to anesthesia, even death.

During the past three decades, improved screening has increased the overall number of cancer detec-tions. But for certain cancers, there haven’t been comparable reductions in cancer-related deaths, the authors noted. This fact suggests that in many cases, the cancers that have been found would not have been fatal. Meanwhile, deadlier cancers may crop up so rapidly, they evade annual screenings.

The researchers argue for renam-ing some conditions to exclude the word “cancer” so that patients will be less likely to push for treatment that could cause more harm than good. That means, for instance, dropping the word “carcinoma” from “ductal carcinoma in situ.”

Such changes could be years in the making — and shouldn’t hap-pen until scientists figure out how better to distinguish the harmless cases from the lethal ones, say some local doctors.

“I’m sure that we do overdiagnose and overtreat certain patients,” said Dr. Jack Steel, a Tampa Bay Radiation Oncology surgeon who treats many prostate-cancer patients. “The prob-lem is, we don’t know which ones.”

Dr. Lodovico Balducci, a geriatric oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Cen-ter, pointed out that screening has reduced deaths from cervical and colon cancers. Yet he is convinced by numerous studies that too many men have had risky and painful treatment for prostate cancers that might not have ever spread.

“I think there’s a delicate balance that we need to exercise,” he said.

But he has seen enough compli-cated cases to know that it’s impos-sible to be definitive. Doctors say their conversations about cancer have evolved. Not only are there bet-ter treatment options, genetics can predict risk for a number of cancers. Many patients realize a cancer diag-nosis often is not a death sentence.

“Have things changed? I’ll say,” said Blumencranz. “If you look at breast cancers, stages one and two, most of those are cured these days.”

By Jodie TillmanTampa Bay Times

Doctors struggle over use of ‘c-word’COURTESY PHOTO

Radiation therapy is one of the standard treatments for breast cancer.

Extra caution for black womenBlack women are being urged to be especially watchful for signs of breast cancer, with some researchers estimating as many as one in five black women may carry a genetic mutation that increases cancer risk. The mutation is the abnormality that convinced actress Angelina Jolie to undergo a preventive mastectomy. Researchers raised the alarm after realizing black women had been historically under-repre-sented in tests for the mutation. Breast cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer death in black women aged 45-64.

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F14 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | THE HOOSIER TIMES | BREAST CANCER AWARENESS

Few people who have waged war with breast cancer are better known than Susan Komen, a name many instantly associate with the organiza-tion Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the most widely known, largest and well-funded breast cancer organiza-tion in the United States.

Susan G. Komen was born Susan Goodman in 1943 in Peoria, Ill. According to her sister, Nancy, Susan was the high school homecoming queen and a college beauty queen. After graduating from college, Good-man returned to her hometown and pursued modeling, eventually mar-rying her high school sweetheart, Stan.

Komen was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1977 after finding a lump that subsequent testing revealed was cancerous. Komen underwent a procedure called a subcutaneous mastectomy, in which the outside of the breast tissue was left intact, but the interior breast tissue was removed. The doctor who did the procedure assured Komen that she was cured. Her sister urged her to get a second opinion, but Komen was convinced she was safe. But within six months Komen found another lump under her arm, and, by this point, it was evident that the cancer had spread. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic soon determined the cancer had metastasized to her lung and under her arm.

Komen underwent several dif-ferent treatments to slow the pro-gression of the cancer, including radiation and intense chemotherapy. However, the cancer continued to spread, and eventually her body developed a resistance to most of the medication. During treatment, Komen repeatedly spoke with her sister about her wish to make the entire breast cancer experience and treatments in the hospital more palatable for women, including improving the appearance of waiting rooms and treatment centers, and

doing other things to help comfort those who would find themselves in similar situations in the future.

Komen lost her battle with breast cancer in 1980 at age 36. By the time of her death, Komen had undergone nine operations and three courses of chemotherapy and radiation.

Nancy Goodman Brinker then made it her mission to do every-thing she could to help end breast cancer and increase awareness of this potentially deadly disease. In 1982, Brinker established the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Founda-tion in her sister’s memory. Since its inception, the organization, now called Susan G. Komen for the Cure, has provided funding for basic, clinical and translational breast

cancer research projects. It also has become instrumental in breast health education and urging women to do self-screening while promoting annual mammograms. Through the years, the foundation has teamed up with many well-known businesses, brands and organizations as part of its fundraising efforts. To date, the organization has invested $750 million in breast cancer research, awarding many thousands of dol-lars in grants in countries around the world.

Through her struggle with breast cancer, Susan Goodman Komen unknowingly inspired an organiza-tion that has helped to save the lives of millions. Learn more at ww5.komen.org.

Komen for the Cure founded in memory of a sister lost to cancerMetro Creative Connection

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nancy Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, began the founda-tion in her sister’s memory in 1982.

Perhaps because they are thrust into the spotlight so often, people believe that celebrity musicians, actors and sports figures are invin-cible. But many well-known women have battled breast cancer. Some have beaten the disease, while others succumbed. Each can help shed light on just how per-vasive breast cancer can be and how no one is immune.

Anastacia, pop singer Christina Applegate,

actress Brigitte Bardot, actress Merideth Baxter, actress Ingrid Bergman, actress Shirley Temple Black,

actress Nancy Brinker, founder of

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Agnes Chan, singer

Sheryl Crow, singer

Bette Davis, actress

Barbara Ehrenreich, author

Melissa Etheridge, singer Edie Falco, actress Peggy

Fleming, ice skater

Jill Ire-land, actress

Kate Jackson, actress

Betsey Johnson, clothing designer

Susan Kadis, Canadian politician

Hoda Kotb, TV host Linda McCartney, singer Kylie Minogue, singer Diana Moran, model Janet Napolitano, U.S. Sec-

retary of Homeland Security Olivia Newton-John, singer Guliana Rancic, TV per-

sonality Nancy Reagan, former

First Lady Lynn Redgrave, actress Robin Roberts, TV host Carly Simon, singer Jaclyn Smith, actress Dame Maggie Smith,

actress Suzanne Somers, actress Dusty Springfield, singer Wanda Sykes, comedian

Warriors in the fi ght

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F14

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Breast cancer is the sec-ond most common cancer among women, second only to lung cancer.

One in eight women is expected to develop breast cancer in her lifetime, and a recent survey by the Society for Women’s Health Research found that 22 percent of women named breast cancer as the disease they fear most.

The specter of breast cancer makes it no sur-prise that women are eager to seek various ways to reduce their risks of developing this potentially deadly disease.

Though cancer treat-ments continue to evolve, there remains no cure for breast cancer or any other types of cancer.

However, there are steps men and women can take to reduce their risks of developing breast cancer.

In fact, the National Cancer Institute says avoiding breast cancer risk factors is the best path to prevention.

Some of the actions to reduce the risk include:

Avoid exposure to radiation. Repeated expo-sure to radiation therapy used to treat illnesses such

as Hodgkin’s disease can increase a person’s risk of breast cancer, particu-larly if treatments begin at an early age.

Keep a healthy weight. Obesity increases the risk of breast cancer, particularly in postmeno-pausal women. Healthy eating and exercise can help women control their weight while reducing their risks of develop-ing breast cancer and a number of other diseases. Scientists at the Mayo Clinic believe there is a link between estrogen production in fatty breast tissue and breast cancer.

Get your exercise. Exercising four or more hours a week can lower breast cancer risk. Exer-cise need not be heavy lifting at the gym. Any moderate physical activi-ty, from cycling to walking, can be effective. Exercise decreases hormone levels in the body that can raise breast cancer risk. Some studies indicate simply walking briskly for one to three hours per week can reduce a woman’s breast cancer risk by 18 percent.

Eat a low-fat diet. The Women’s Interven-tion Nutrition Study from the National Cancer Insti-tute found that the high-

est rate of breast cancer reduction was among a group of women who ate a low-fat diet.

Reduce alcohol con-sumption. Various studies have indicated that wom-en who drink alcoholic beverages may develop cancer at a higher rate. Women who consume two to five drinks daily have a greater risk of developing breast cancer than those who abstain from alcohol.

Weigh the risks of hormone replacement

therapy. There are mixed reviews on hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, for postmenopausal women. There may be a link between long-term HRT and breast cancer, particularly when estro-gen and progesterone are used in combination. Some doctors advise estrogen-only hormone therapy for women who have had a hyster-ectomy.

Use of SERMs and aromatase inhibi-tors. Selective estrogen receptor modulators, or SERMs, are drugs that act like estrogen on some bodily tissues but block the effect of estrogen on other tissues. Aromatase inhibitors decrease the amount of estro-gen made by the body. Women with a high risk of breast cancer may benefit from taking a SERM or aromatase inhibitor.

Increase fruit and vegetable consumption. Carotenoids are cancer-protective pigments found in a vast number of fruits and vegetables. Researchers at New York University found women who had higher blood carotenoid levels had a significantly small-er risk of breast cancer

You can take several steps to reduce your cancer riskMetro Creative Connection

CHRIS HOWELL | HERALD-TIMES

Thousands participate annually in Hoosiers Outrun Cancer, a huge community event that attracts thousands. This picture is from the 2012 run and walk. This year’s event was held last Saturday.

COURTESY PHOTO

Another action all women should take is to have periodic mammograms, such as can be taken with this mammography X-ray machine.

than women with lower levels.

Go sparingly on antibiotics. Only take antibiotics when they are truly needed. New evi-dence suggests that the more often a woman takes antibiotics, the higher her breast cancer risk. A study of more than 10,000 wom-en found that women who took antibiotics for the equivalent of about 25 pre-scriptions over an average of 17 years were twice as likely to develop breast

cancer than women who never took the drugs.

Breastfeed your children. Lactation can suppress ovulation and the body’s production of estrogen, which has been linked to higher levels of breast cancer. Breastfeed-ing may drop a woman’s breast cancer risk by 4 percent.

Although there is no cure for cancer, there are a number of different ways women can reduce their risks for breast cancer.

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We encourage everyone to be healthy and maintain proactive health care,

eat a healthy diet and be active with daily exercise. By improving our lives and the research for cancer, we can

keep the memory alive of those who have lost their battles.

The Team of Choice Realty salutes all cancer survivors.

F16 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | THE HERALD-TIMES | XXXXXX

F16

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