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How Many of our ActiveRainers Will Develop Breast Cancer?

I am torn. On one hand, I don't want to scare the heck out of everybody with this post... And on the other hand, it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and I want to remind everyone just how insidious this awful disease is and how much it plagues our beloved wives, sisters, friends, and daughters. We really need to stay on top of it.

Because... See the picture of my wife to the right of this post? She's gone because we were not educated about the real dangers of cysts and lumps and so forth. We did not stay on top of things.

According to the National Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. (Edit: And, as several people commented below, men can get it also...just not nearly as often.)

This is almost too much to digest.

I don't know this for a fact, but I think women represent ActiveRain a little more than the men do. But for argument's sake, let us say that we have a 50/50 split.

As I write this, I see that we have over 160,0000 ActiveRainers.

If half of them are women, we can say that 10,000 current ActiveRain members will be diagnosed with some form of breast cancer at some point in their lives. I hope to God that's not true, but statistically speaking...it is.

Ten thousand ActiveRainers! That's the facts.

I've lived through the trauma of breast cancer and, please believe me, you don't ever want to see the things I've seen. Please be diligent with your health care. And if you have a loved one-- a wife, a daughter, a sister-- make sure she is being diligent. Sometimes we need to be aggressive for our loved ones, when they aren't aggressive enough.

Remember, cancer is only curable when caught in the early stages. You may be the 1 in 8, or one of the 10,000 [possibles] on ActiveRain-- but if you catch it at Stage 1, you have a 100% chance of survival. Early detection is the key! Please make that your personal mantra.

Stage I breast cancer has a 100% survival rate, according to the stats! So if you are the 1 in 8, this is where you want to fall. You can read more about that here.

Also, mammograms are not 100% effective. Read about lousy mammograms here. If you have a lump-- any lump anywhere: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ask your doctor to stick a needle in it. A biopsy is the only way to know for sure. Everything else leaves room for guessing. And you should never guess when it comes to cancer.

If you want to read my wife's story, you can find it at: http://www.fighting-breast-cancer.com

The first post Karen wrote is really the most important one. It tells the story of her misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis.

I am not trying to scare people right now. I realize this is a grim and depressing topic. I just don't want anybody to go through what Karen and I went through, if it can be avoided. And we could have avoided it...

Posted by Michael and Karen George on 10/11/2009 12:18 AM

Comments (45)

Breast Cancer Awareness in the ActiveRain Channel

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45 Comments on How Many of our ActiveRainers Will Develop Breast Cancer?

OCT

"Brad Andersohn-- do you have any stats on the male-female ratio here on the rain?"

I'm guessing it's somewhere around 50/50, but let me see what I can find out for sure. :-)

BTW - I think it's great that you care enough to put this out there, we all know how much you love and miss Karen, as do we. Anything we can do to inform, educate and alert others is always a good thing no matter how grim or scary the subject!

Thanks Michael. :-)

I was diagnosed with breast cancer - almost 10 years ago - 2 weeks after my divorce (after 25 years). What a wake up call! All of a sudden I was not upset about divorce. I was thinking "I want to live!"

From the time I was about 34 (my mom died from breast cancer at the age of 36 - many years ago) , I had a yearly mammogram; checked myself each and every month, and then there was the divorce time -- no checkup; no mammogram; lots of stress. Just one year. And the tumor was 2.5 cm!!!

1. Check yourself each & every month!

2. Do Mammogram each year. No matter what! (not perfect, but better than not)

3. Go to GYN each & every year for pap smear - physical!

4. Enjoy life each & every day!!! Do not lose sight of the present!

Thank you for your comment Nellie!

I encouarge people who have lost a spouse, or partner to take some time to grieve and also go to loss counseling to help them through

Hi Karen: Wow 1 out of 8 - that is amazing - thank you for educating me - I did not know!

Michael - I remember Karen and think of her often. It was because of her I started to offer to make avatars Pink for people. I cannot tell you how sorry I am for your loss and it warms my heart to see you change the avatar.

HEY AR - Feature this POST!

Karen was one of the first people I got to know on Activerain, and I still look back at some of her SEO posts when I need a little encouragement. I did click through on your link to read her blog - an amazing journal and what a wake-up call! Something tells me this post is going to touch someone on Activerain and perhaps save their life.

Michael, this is a great post and a warning for all of us. We just had a client that we close on experience all this. I knew from the first day when his wife discovered a lump. .and by the time we close on their property she was already very advanced and very sick.

Michael, I just used the link from your post in Why Plant It Pink? on our garden club website about National Garden Club Inc's partnership with Susan G Komen for the Cure. Maybe it will reach a few more people...

A lot of people don't realise this but men can also develop breast cancer.

"To understand breast cancer, it helps to have some basic knowledge about the normal structure of the breasts.

The breast is made up mainly of lobules (milk-producing glands in women), ducts (tiny tubes that carry the milk from the lobules to the nipple), and stroma (fatty tissue and connective tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels).

Until puberty (usually around age 13 to 14), young boys and girls have a small amount of breast tissue consisting of a few ducts located under the nipple and areola (area around the nipple). At puberty, a girl's ovaries make female hormones, causing breast ducts to grow, lobules to form at the ends of ducts, and the amount of stroma to increase.

In males, hormones made by the testicles restrict further growth of breast tissue. Men's breast tissue contains ducts, but only a few if any lobules.

Like all cells of the body, a man's breast duct cells can undergo cancerous changes. But breast cancer is less common in men because their breast duct cells are less developed than those of women and because their breast cells are not constantly exposed to the growth-promoting effects of female hormones"

Michael: My sister-in-law was diagnosed in February and is already done with treatment. I found so much solice in Karen's breast cancer blog (along with some other family members.) Please keep reminding folks.

You are always in the "it won't happen to us" camp until it does happen to you. You have done a phenomenal job keeping her spirit alive. I will always remember the sassy little redhead that I never met IRL but she touched me online!

Michael, I feel your pain. I lost my mother to breast cancer in April after a horrible 18 month battle. I'm so sorry for your loss and the anguish you and your wife went through.

Also, mammograms are not very effective at all. If you have a lump ladies: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE ask your doctor to stick a needle in it. A biopsy is the only way. Everything else leaves room for guessing. Very true! My mother had mammograms faithfully, and even after diagnosis, the lump still couldn't be found with a mammogram. The Doctors think she had it for 5 years or so before her diagnosis. It wasn't until it had metastisized to over 50% of her bone marrow and she started experiencing bone pain that they found it.

Sounds strange, but 1 in about 1000 men are diagnosed with breast cancer as well. It's important for all of us to watch for changes in breast tissue and see a doctor about ANYTHING you thnk may be abnormal!

Thanks for posting this. If even one reader begins to do self checks, it could be one life saved!

Let me add to Jim Lee's comment on male breast cancer. Dick is a breast cancer survivor. We never knew that men could have breast cancer but they can.

Michael, message heard loud and clear. I am very sorry for your loss.

Michael, thanks for posting... What a great wake up call!

Michael, you continue to honor Karen with your messages and concern for others. If you help save one person from the difficult road Karen travelled you and she will have done an exceptional thing.

Michael,

This had to be tough to write, but I think you ought to repost it every October.. To catch those that missed it.

Sincere condolences. I lost a close friend a few years ago after a mis-diagnosis. It's such a shame that it happens as often as it does.

Michael, Good to see a post that addresses a much ignored subject.

Breast cancer is not limited to one form of cancer. There are many types. Some more aggressive than the others. Some are estrogen driven. Some are not. Some start as estrogen receptive and later when it reoccures they have morphed and are no longer estrogen driven. Some forms manifest with external symptoms. Most are tumors hidden and hard to feel until they become large and have involved lymph nodes.

You do not have to have a relative with breast cancer to be at risk. Some breast cancer has a genetic marker. Breast, Bowel and Ovarian are linked to the same gene. If your mother had Ovarian your risk is increased.

There are no studies that link breast cancer to any specific causation or risk factor. The data available is still inconclusive. Younger women do not fair as well as older women. Usually a younger woman has a more aggressive type of cancer.

The best sources for information are University Teaching hosptials like Hopkins, MD Anderson, or Sloan Kettering. Johns Hopkins has a facility strictly devoted to breast health. Another authority who lectures on the subject is Dr. Susan Love.

I was first diagnosed in 1998. My second bout was stage IV in 2004. I urge everyone, male or female to become educated on the subject so you in turn can educate those you love.

I used to manage an office and one day one of my agents (who is younger than me) walked into my office, closed the door and told me she had breast cancer. It was a stunning revelation and the fact that she has four young children just tore at my heart. I had walked through breast cancer with a very dear friend of mine back in the late 80s and watched her die and I prayed that this lady did not end up in the same situation. Good news is, things have changed a lot, she survived chemo, a double mastectomy and is doing well today. She was recently featured on a local morning news show sharing her story. I tell her constantly that she is an inspiration to me.

Michael, thank you for bringing this to the forefront, and sharing your loss of your beautiful wife in order to educate and remind us. I am so sorry for your loss, and will take this as a lesson. Thank you.

Wonderful post Michael...my wife is a 3 year breast cancer survivor on tues the 13th. After surgery, chemo and radiation we are very thankful for the positive outcome....so sorry for your loss and yes this insidious disease does affect so many people...women and men....I have just read Karens story as my wife came into my office and asked why do I have tears in my eyes and I just said we are 2 of the lucky ones....thank-you for posting this to help let everyone know.....you are very kind....

Michael,

I have spent over an hour reading some of the blogs posted by Karen. Very informative, and very courageous. Also, very worthwhile. Thanks for posting this.

I was unaware of Karen's plight, and now I'm very upset and tearful because I feel like I've lost a friend. Reading her past blogs in series is just like reading the story of Ann Frank.

All the best, and thanks for your very good and timely advice.

Brian

Such a sad and a good reminder all in one. Remember gals, if some-one is nudging you, go and get it done, mamagrams will only take a couple of hours and may save lives and extend lives. Guys can get it to although not as common.

Hi Michael. My paternal grandmother has breast cancer in remission so I am reminded to check for lumps and to get a mammogram nearly daily. Thanks for the reminder though. ~ Lana

Michael - I feel lilke a complete heel. I'm relatively new here on AR and recognized the photo because you have commented on my posts before. I've always responded by addressing you as Karen. I actually thought that's who I had been responding to. After reading this post, I realize what a terrible mistake that was. I just spent the last two hours reading Karen's blog. I can't stop crying. Her vibrant personality comes through loud and clear in her blog. She was an amazing person and I feel like I just lost a friend. I'm so incredibly sorry for your loss. It's obvious from her blog, you loved each other very much. Thanks for sharing. It was a very powerful message.

Scheduled my first mammogram for this month. Scary.

Michael, I am new to AR and I read your wife's blog this morning. Your wife was an amazing woman. There is no doubt to me that her story will save lives. Keep up the good work about spreading the word about the importance of what we can do to protect ourselves with an early diagnosis.

When i was getting treated for cancer in my neck at MD Anderson, they told me that they do 5000 breast cancer patients per month. Whether you are a man or a women get everything checked when it is time. early detection is crucial for survival. I get a prostate check every year and colon check every two years. There were no test for my type of cancer and it is ususally discovered in Stage 4 due to misdiagnosis. I support the Susan B Komen race for the cure, I give donations to MD Anderson, and help raise money for the annual cancer activities in Oklahoma City. Please do your check ups and give generously to help cancer research.

Thank you for posting this. As a newbie I never knew your wife unfortunately, but after reading her entire blog today, I can honestly say it was my loss. The way she faced things and the attitude conveyed in her posts was, well, Staggering to say the least. I am so sorry for your loss, she sounds like an amazing person, and you were fortunate to have known her as long as you did, despite it being nowhere's near long enough.

I cannot believe that there is not a family anywhere that this dreaded disease has not touched! Thank you for posting.

Scary isn't it. This is a good reminder post. So sorry for your loss.

Patricia

Breast cancer frightens the hell out of me. I do everything I can to protect myself. 10,000 is a large number. My mom was a breast cancer survivor. I hope I don't get it and we find a cure soon.

Michael, Thank you so much for sharing your story and concern. I didn't know Karen, but it sounds like she was a wonderful person.

I gave money today, there were people with big pink signs and pink shoes collecting money. I love the support the NFL is giving as well. It's certainly a great cause to give money to.

My grandmother had breast cancer and was a survivor.

My wife is a twenty year survivor with 3 bouts of breast cancer and related cancer issues.

I'm so sorry for your loss Michael. What a wonderful thing you are doing in memory of your wife. I had just joined AR when she was very sick. Everyone loved her and thought so highly of her.

My best friend and my Aunt are both Breast cancer survivors. I'm going to schedule my overdue mammogram in the morning.

10,000? Wow. Scares the hell out of me. Those statistics should open some eyes. Just opened mine!

Michael, what a beautiful and couragous way Karen lived her life, I read her blog and loved the part about the dogs.

I will ask my wife to read it tomorrow.

SCARE EVERYONE!!!

Thank You

David

Michael,

I miss Karen. Her posts were always a highlight for me. I read her breast cancer blog well over a year ago, but read it again a few weeks ago. She had wit and charm and was a fabulous writer. I am very sorry for your loss and for ours as well.

OCT

I'm sorry for your loss, but... how long must you grieve? What is required for you to let go, and live?

OCT

Thank you for sharing Karen's life with us. I'm so sorry for your loss.

OCT

Hi Michael,

I've been out of the rain for a couple of weeks. I used to read Karen faithfully, an amazing woman. My wife Jessie-Joy lost her 7 year battle with breast cancer last week. Breast Cancer Sucks and most of it is preventable as you say.

Hang in there, I am grieving with you and I am spreading the word about the battle. How about making this post so that we can reblog it.

List and Sell (and be aware) Gary @ RentonHomeFinder.com

PS ... Thanks for the support and sending me comment last week on Liz post honoring my wife

Michael, I went through Karen's story and cried while reading her blogs. I'm truly sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing her story. I hope that it helps people to be more aware of this hideous disease and helps someone to get earlier detection. I have a very dear friend who is battling stage 3 breast cancer right now.

OCT

I had not realized there was 100% chance of recovery if breast cancer is caught early. Thank you for your post!

DEC

Hi, Michael:

I enjoy your blog so much, and I've started reading Karen's. She was an amazing person. You are, too.

Thank you for channeling your grief for Karen into helping others try to avoid what she went through. I have scheduled a mammogram for December 29.

Best regards,

Robin

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