Life After Breast Cancer
A majority of breast cancer survivors continue to live normal, fulfilling lives. At the same time, life after breast cancer is different in many ways. For one thing, there is no "cure" for breast cancer. Survivors know it can always come back, and must find a way to come to terms with this risk. They may also face changes to their body, such as hair loss from chemotherapy, arm swelling due to radiation, or losing a breast due to mastectomy. It takes time to grieve and accept these changes, and for some women, recovery is a lifelong process.
Breast cancer survivors might also be more cautious than the average woman about getting regular checkups, while smart lifestyle choices like a healthy diet, daily exercise, and abstinence from alcohol and cigarettes will be ever more important. These constitute considerable changes to how some women live. Others ride through the changes well, and greet their future with a renewed sense of purpose and hope.
Women Who Have Survived Breast Cancer
Breast cancer survivors are everywhere. They are young mothers or retirees. Some are wealthy or poor. They can be found in cities or on farms. They are former first ladies like Nancy Reagan and Betty Ford, actresses like Shirley Temple Black and Rue McClanahan, athletes like Peggy Fleming and Edna Campbell, and singers like Carly Simon and Patti LaBelle, just to name a few.
Breast cancer affects all of us because it can affect any of us. If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer, reach out to survivors and to fellow patients. You're part of a unique sisterhood, and with their support, you can fight breast cancer and win.
Improving the Chances of Surviving Breast Cancer
Screening cannot be encouraged enough. It may be the single most important way to improve your chances of surviving if you get breast cancer. Beyond that, work with your doctor and commit wholeheartedly to your agreed upon treatment plan, to get the best results. Believe in yourself and keep a positive attitude, one of the best tools at your disposal. You should also watch your weight. Women who carry extra pounds when diagnosed with breast cancer, or who put on weight during treatment, seem to have increased breast cancer recurrence and mortality. On the other hand, a few hours of regular exercise a week has been shown to improve breast cancer survival rates in women being treated for the disease.
Difficult as it may seem if you are being treated for breast cancer, find time to exercise, and try to keep your weight under control. Reflect on this: After battling with breast cancer, the last thing you would want to do is face heart disease, which kills more women in the United States than breast cancer.
Taking Action as a Breast Cancer Survivor
Surviving a disease like breast cancer is a life changing experience. Many breast cancer survivors find fulfillment as volunteers for a variety of cancer-related causes, from fundraising, to increasing awareness about the disease. Survivors put a face on breast cancer and serve a crucial role in the strides being made to lower breast cancer incidence rates and mortality, around the world.
Whether you seek extensive involvement or just want a small role, there are opportunities available for you. Begin by contacting a volunteer organization, such as like the Susan G. Komen Foundation, or a local breast cancer support group in your community. Your doctor's office or hospital will also have details. Regardless of how the disease has changed your life, you can bring out the positive by reaching out to other breast cancer survivors like you.
The Odds of Dying from Breast Cancer
In 2005, it was estimated that breast cancer will kill more than 40,000 women and 460 men. But the statistics are not all so grim. A good portion of those 40,000 deaths will happen to women who were diagnosed many years ago, and screening and treatment have vastly improved since then. Certainly not every woman diagnosed with breast cancer will die from it. Quite the contrary, those who catch the disease at its earliest stages face an excellent survival rate - as high as 98 percent. These odds shift significantly for women who had their cancer diagnosed at a later stage, even though in more extreme cases, a woman stands a good chance of still being alive five years from the time of diagnosis.
If you have been diagnosed with cancer, do not reflect on think about the "worst-case scenario". Breast cancer is a highly treatable disease and new advancements are being made everyday. Be positive, expect the best from your treatments, and stay in close contact with your doctor. If, on the other hand, you are currently cancer free, keep up with regular screenings and other preventative measures.
Odds That Breast Cancer Will Return
There is always a chance of breast cancer recurring, but this chance is higher in women whose lymph nodes were initially affected, or who had larger or more aggressive tumors. Most cases of recurrent breast cancer crop up in the first three to five years after treatment, but breast cancer can come back at any time, and not just in the breast.
Breast cancer could strike anywhere in the body, most commonly the lymph nodes, lungs, bones or liver. Since recurrence is always a possibility, you must continue to be diligent about performing breast self-exams and keeping scheduled appointments with your doctor for the rest of your life. Be proactive in asking your doctor about symptoms of recurrence and reporting anything out of the ordinary, not just with your breasts.
Finding Breast Cancer Survivors
The Internet is a great place to look for support and find other breast cancer survivors and patients. Search for Web sites that pull survivors together, like www.y-me.org, and join chat rooms where you can "talk" candidly online about feelings, treatments, and anything else that is on your mind. You can also call toll-free support groups and information hotlines, like Cancer Care Inc. at (800)813-4673 or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at (800)462-9273.
Your community may have a breast cancer support group not just for patients and survivors, but also for family members and anyone else affected by the disease. This is not the time to be shy about contacting breast cancer survivors. You will be pleasantly surprised at how many are likely to lend a friendly ear, share advice, or even offer a hug.