| Four years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. | | | | picture of the breast on film, like a picture. It can't be |
| The cancerous tumor could not be felt by me or my | | | | altered, magnified, or brightened. |
| gynecologist or the surgeon who performed my | | | | Early detection of breast cancer can give a woman |
| mastectomy. My film mammogram and my ultra | | | | an 81% five year survival rate. In my case, I have a |
| sound were inconclusive, but I had a radiologist that | | | | 20% rate of cancer recurrence so I am close to the |
| wouldn't stop. The tumor finally showed up on a | | | | 80% five year survival rate. I have one year to go. |
| diagnostic mammogram. It was difficult to see and | | | | But a digital mammogram is not all you can do to |
| impossible to feel because the tumor was in the back | | | | give you an edge. Walking everyday for 15 to 30 |
| of my breast close to the chest wall. I am one of | | | | minutes a day keeps you fit and the weight down. |
| those very fortunate women who have not become | | | | Too many extra pounds increase risk of breast |
| a statistic. Over 40,000 women die every year from | | | | cancer. Take 15 minutes of that walk in the sunshine |
| breast cancer. Breast cancer is the leading cause of | | | | without sunscreen. Your skin will absorb healthy |
| cancer deaths of women in the United States. (Lung | | | | amounts of Vitamin D. Studies have shown Vitamin D |
| cancer is first.) While there are no guarantees in life, | | | | helps fight breast cancer. |
| there are measures to take to give you an edge. | | | | Eat healthy. Lower your intake of fats while |
| There are two types of screening mammograms: | | | | increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables. Don't |
| digital and film. Get a yearly digital mammogram. They | | | | forget the orange juice. Reduce stress. Learn to |
| are more definitive than a film mammogram. A digital | | | | meditate or learn yoga. Stress is a killer. Put your |
| mammogram takes an electronic image of the breast | | | | resources to staying healthy in both mind and body. |
| and stores it on a computer. Images can be | | | | This has been my regimen for four years now. Every |
| enhanced and brightened for a clearer reading by a | | | | year I look forward to New Year's Day and this year |
| radiologist. Digital mammograms use less radiation | | | | is no exception. |
| than a film mammogram. A film mammogram takes a | | | | |