Prevention is better than a cure

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shannon Hall
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas- October is a month set aside to remind women how important it is to monitor their breast health throughout the year.

Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that forms in the tissues of the breast, caused by a genetic abnormality. Breast cancer affects one in eight women over the course of their lifetime, and the associated death rate is the highest among any form of cancer, with the exception of lung cancer.

Although the 7th Medical Group does not have the capability to perform mammograms on patients, they did a couple of things differently this year to help bring awareness to this cause.

Handwritten orders were given to patients ages 50 and older to receive a mammogram at one of the Abilene hospitals. This process is faster than having patients wait on a referral through the mail, which can take up to two weeks. Also, members of all three squadrons within the 7th Medical Group wore pink morale shirts every Friday throughout the month of October to remind patients to schedule their screenings.

"Our goal is to show support to our patients who are in need of mammogram screenings, no matter what section of the medical group they visit", said Capt. Nikesha McHugh, 7th Medical Group disease manager and infection prevention officer in charge. "We want our patients to know that screenings save lives, and if detected early, breast cancer is curable."

Along with scheduling screenings at a clinic, women should be performing self-breast exams once a month and reporting any changes, abnormalities or questions to their medical provider.

According to breastcancer.org, there are five simple steps to performing a breast self-exam. First, stand in the mirror with your hands on your hips and look for any swelling, discoloration, shape or any areola abnormalities. Second, raise your arms above your head and look for the same changes. Third, look for any fluid coming from the nipples. Fourth, use a circular motion to feel around your breast while lying down. Fifth, use the same circular motion while sitting or standing.

"I performed monthly breast self-exams for as long as I could remember, and that is how I found a lump in my breast while on Christmas vacation in 2009," said Shannon Spalding, military spouse and breast cancer survivor. "I was diagnosed in 2010 with a rare case of breast cancer; since then I always share my story to help spread awareness."

Factors that can contribute to patients at risk include smoking, family health history, race and late menopause. Although women ages 50 years and older are more at risk for breast cancer, it can happen to anyone at any time, so detection and prevention can never begin to soon.

It is important for all Team Dyess members to know the risks and encourage family, friends and coworkers to get their screenings done. If a situation does arise, within a home or work place, it is also important for wingmen to be there for moral support.

"Just being there as a shoulder to lean on, providing dinner or just someone to talk to can go a very long way," Spalding said. "My family, friends, co-worker, husband, doctor and nurses held me in faith and love when I couldn't do it myself. It seems like the whole world gets darker for a long time and hope is lost, but I promise that life is so much more worth living."

For more information on self-exams and breast cancer visit http://www.breastcancer.org/