The Frisco-based nonprofit organization works to provide education, early detection and support services to women affected by breast cancer.
“For us, and for breast cancer patients nationwide, breast cancer never stops,” Gonzalez said. “It's just that during October, we get a bigger microphone—a megaphone—and people's ears are open to hearing about breast cancer awareness.”
In an interview with Community Impact, Gonzalez provided insight into breast cancer screening recommendations, benefits of detecting breast cancer earlier than later and more.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What happens nationwide during October pertaining to it being Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
It is a month where the nation, and globally, women become aware about breast health and breast cancer, so you'll see a lot of companies that will partner with breast cancer charities or breast cancer organizations, and they will show the pink ribbon as a sign of support. This is also a time when the color pink turns up everywhere. It started with a campaign in the very early '90s, whenever it was noticed that there was a very high mortality rate for women who were diagnosed with breast cancer. Something had to be done about it, and that is what started Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
What breast cancer screening recommendations does NBCF make?
[National Breast Cancer Foundation], along with various other institutions and all of our partner hospitals, recommend that women that are at average risk of developing breast cancer start their baseline mammogram, their very first mammogram, at the age of 40, and every year after that. Average risk means that there are no known risk factors that could increase the likelihood of an individual being diagnosed with breast cancer, such as previous family history of breast cancer.
What are the benefits of detecting breast cancer earlier than later?
We believe that early detection saves lives. When breast cancer is detected early, the chances of survival dramatically increase. About 66% of breast cancers are found at a localized stage—before the cancer has spread outside of the breast tissue. Of that 66% that are diagnosed with breast cancer in its early stages, the five-year relative survival rate is 95%. Early stage would be considered Stage 1.
What are treatment plans for stages of breast cancer?
When breast cancer is detected early, many times treatment can be less debilitating or aggressive. There are more options for the patient than when breast cancer is detected in more advanced stages. Many times, the treatment has to be more aggressive, because at that point, the medical staff and the doctors are trying to save that patient's life. Some common treatment types for breast cancer would be chemotherapy, radiation, lumpectomy, mastectomy. Those are some of the traditional treatments for breast cancer, but even the order of how those are done depends on the patient and on the patient's specific diagnosis.
How is a breast self-examination done?
Pick a day in the month that the woman will remember; it needs to be consistent. If they are still menstruating, it would be after their menstrual cycle, when their breasts are no longer as tender as they would be if they were in their menstrual cycle. If they have gone through menopause, they can pick whatever day of the month they'll remember. Check the whole breast, using the pads of your three middle fingers pressing down with light, medium and firm pressure.
What are warning signs women should watch for?
Any changes in the breast and the breast tissue—from the collarbone, down to the breast, to the end of the breast including the area underneath the underarm—that is all breast tissue. It could be physical changes like a lump or pain when you touch a certain area. It could also be visual changes, like liquid coming out of the nipple. It could be the nipple appearing as if it's an orange peel or dimpling. We often hear from the medical professionals we work with that a lump might move around. There needs to be a conversation with the doctor because there are other breast conditions, and 8 out of 10 lumps found are not breast cancer.
Also of note
The National Breast Cancer Foundation provides definitions for terms associated with breast cancer.
- Chemotherapy: a treatment method that uses a combination of drugs to either destroy cancer cells or slow down the growth of cancer cells
- Lumpectomy: usually removes the least amount of breast tissue needed to get the tumor out and a margin of healthy tissue around it
- Mastectomy: In the past, breast cancer surgery often required removing the entire breast, chest wall and all axillary lymph nodes in a procedure called a total radical mastectomy. Now, less severe surgery options exist and are common.
For more information about the National Breast Cancer Foundation, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org.
