Healthy Woman's surprise guest brings session on breast cancer home

Dr. Bernie L. Brunson of Mid-South Surgical shares the latest breast cancer statistics with women attending October's Healthy Woman event, 'Understanding Breast Cancer,' at Lupo's on Oct. 23. Brunson was joined by Dyersburg Regional Medical Center Mammogram Technician Martha True and surprise speaker Cindy Taylor, a breast cancer survivor, for the informative and inspirational session. State Gazette photo/Shelia Rouse [Click to enlarge]

And the amount of time it took over 100 women to come in out of the cold, dismal downpour, enjoy a meal and listen to an informative presentation, was time enough for 20 women across the nation to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and five more to be lost to the disease.

"One person is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes," said Dyersburg Regional Medical Center Mammogram Technician Martha True. "And one person dies every 14 minutes from breast cancer."

True joined Dr. Bernie L. Brunson of Mid-South Surgical Center to provide up-to-date and lifesaving information in Healthy Women's October session, titled, "Understanding Breast Cancer." But it was the surprise guest at the end of the session who brought the issue home.

Cindy Taylor, a breast cancer survivor from Dyersburg, had no family history of cancer. A healthy mother of three, she completed the baseline mammogram requested by her doctor as one of several things on her to-do list, never dreaming that the results would change her life and her family in such a profound way.

The suspicious area on Taylor's mammogram led to a biopsy and then to a routine visit to her doctor to learn the results.

"My first clue something was wrong was when the doctor asked my husband to sit down," said Taylor. "'You have cancer' are the scariest three words you'll ever hear."

The Lupo's banquet room fell silent as Taylor recounted her bout with cancer -- the fear of the diagnosis, the warm support from her church and the community, juggling family responsibilities, and her utter peace after handing the issue over to God.

One of the key aspects of Taylor's victory over cancer was her early diagnosis, an issue returned to again and again by both Brunson and True.

Brunson said screenings necessary to detect breast cancer include annual mammograms, clinical breast examinations and monthly breast self-examinations.

"Only half of the women who should get mammograms get them," said Brunson. "That means half of you women (need to make an appointment.)"

Because up to 15 percent of breast cancers may be missed by a mammogram, Brunson said it is also important to have an annual clinical breast examination.

"This should be done by a physician, nurse practitioner or trained medical staff," said Brunson. "We do a lot of these. We know what we are looking for. We look for asymmetry, discharge from the nipples, and inflammatory breast cancer (where the skin of the breast resembles an orange peel or may resemble an infection.) A lot of it is visual."

Suggestions for the breast self-examination include using the hot, soapy water in the shower to aid the exam and completing it about the same time every month.

"It's better to do it in the shower, in a clockwise fashion," said Brunson. "Don't forget the spot under your collarbone and to feel under your armpit."

For pre-menopausal women, the best time to complete a self-exam is the week after the menstrual cycle is complete.

"We are not looking for lumps, we are looking for changes," said Brunson. "It's like traveling the same bumpy road every day. After a while, you are going to know where every bump is."

Knowing risk factors, both controllable and uncontrollable, is another way that women can arm themselves in the fight against breast cancer.

Uncontrollable risk factors of breast cancer:

- aging

- family history of breast cancer

- previous biopsy indicating a pre-cancerous condition in the breast

- first menstrual cycle before age 12

- menopause after age 55

- Genetic mutation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes

- breast density

Controllable risk factors of breast cancer

- alcoholic beverage consumption

- physical inactivity

- obesity after menopause or gaining weight as an adult

- recent use of oral contraceptives for five years or longer

- never having children or having children after age 30

- current or recent use of combined estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement therapy

"The purpose of this is not to try to scare you," said Brunson. "My saddest cases, about six per year, are women who get these places and are in denial. If we catch it early, in Stage I or Stage II, (the survival rate is so much better.)"

Brunson said women with Stage I cancer have a 95 percent of living 10 years or longer, while Stage II cancer drops that percentage to 65 percent for a 10-year or longer survival rate. For Stage III cancer patients, there is only a 50 percent survival rate of five years or more.

The American Cancer Society reports that Stage IV breast cancer, which has overwhelmed the body's natural defenses and metastasized to bone tissue, lung tissue, or the liver by the time the cancer is first diagnosed, has a five-year survival rate of 16 to 20 percent.

"In Stage IV, when I see this and diagnose it, then I think, 'If they would have just come to me six months ago..." said Brunson. "If you don't take anything else out of this, know how important the screening is. We don't as of yet, have any way to stop breast cancer from coming. But if we can find it early, it's very treatable, very survivable. Breast cancer is not a death sentence. I've got a lot of long-term survivors."

Membership in Healthy Woman is free. To sign up, contact Judy Boehmler at 287-2109, e-mail Judy_Boehmler@chs.net or register online at www. dyersburgregionalmc.com.

Healthy Woman monthly events are made possible with the support of 2008-2009 partners including: Platinum sponsors The State Gazette, Burks Broadcasting; Silver - First Citizens National Bank; Bronze - Security Bank, Alexander Thompson & Arnold PLLC, Dyersburg Electric System; and Table sponsors - Colonial DPP, LLC, Burks Beverage, Hilliard Lyons, LLC, First South Bank, City Drug Co. and Family Care.