Breast Cancer Awareness Month

When the calendar flips to the month of October, it’s not just pumpkins and mums that are symbolic of this month. We’ve all become accustomed to the pink ribbons seen practically everywhere representing the campaign to fight breast cancer.

Breast cancer receives global attention because it is the most common cancer worldwide, according to the Mayo Clinic, and the most common cancer diagnosed in the United States.

The Top Cancers in the United States

Breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers account for almost 50% of all new cancer cases in the U.S., based on stats from the National Cancer Institute. Lung and bronchus, colorectal, pancreatic, and breast cancers are responsible for nearly 50% of all deaths.

In 2022, invasive breast cancer is estimated to be newly diagnosed in 287,850 women, as incidence rates continue to increase by about 0.5% annually.

#FightLikeAGirl

So, when you see publicity about Pink Week, otherwise known as Breast Cancer Awareness Week (October 4–6), and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, this campaign is designed to educate about the need for screenings and early detection opportunities that can save lives. There is substantial research funding for breast cancer which has helped create advances in its diagnosis and treatment. Thanks to growing awareness campaigns regarding breast cancer over the years, fewer American women are dying from it. Deaths from breast cancer are down 42% over a 30-year period.

However, there’s a long way to go. While many nations are seeing a significant reduction in deaths, globally, there is still a great need for preventative measures in low-resource countries. The World Health Organization says breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world, impacting an estimated 2.3 million people.

Breast Cancer Basics

The American Cancer Society defines cancer as a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells that can result in death if not treated.

Breast cancer itself can occur in the lining cells (epithelium) of the ducts (85%) or lobules (15%) in the glandular tissue of the breast.

Breast cancer most commonly presents as a painless lump or thickening in the breast. If you find a lump, see your healthcare provider. Early diagnosis can often be the key to successful treatment.

If it progresses, it can attack the surrounding breast tissue and become invasive and spread or metastasize to lymph nodes or other organs.

Early Detection Leads to Cures

Early detection is the best defense. That’s why the American Cancer Society stresses the need for a baseline mammogram for women at age 40 with annual mammogram screenings for women ages 45 to 54.

At Any Lab Test Now®, we believe strongly in blood tests used for screening purposes to improve your health. We believe our job is to educate you and your family on the prevention and management of chronic and everyday illnesses.

Any Lab Test Now® has a few very useful tools:

One option is the Comprehensive Female Panel, which provides a snapshot of your overall health. This panel is designed for women at all stages of their life to help them make informed decisions about their healthcare goals.

Another breast cancer test is a screening called the Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel. It’s important to understand this is a monitoring tool, not a diagnostic tool. It does not tell you if you have breast cancer. It provides vital information that you can use in tandem with personalized care from your physician. This is a combination of three tests. The CA 15‐3 and CA 27.29 are proteins that are normally produced by breast cells. In persons with breast cancer, the levels can increase. The protein amounts can rise with breast cancer tumor growth and fall with treatment. The carcinoembryonic antigen is a protein that may be present in people with cancer, including breast cancer. The CEA Test measures the amount of this protein in your blood. CEA is normally detected in healthy adults but at a certain range.

Take Charge of Your Health

Having routine breast screenings through mammograms or lab testing is a game-changer. Early detection means better breast cancer treatment options like surgery, radiation, or medication. These can be highly effective, especially when the disease is identified early.

Not only can you stay on top of your health through screenings, but there are also behavioral measures you can take to reduce your risk of breast cancer, including:

prolonged breastfeeding
regular physical activity
weight control
avoidance of harmful use of alcohol
avoidance of exposure to tobacco smoke
avoidance of prolonged use of hormones
avoidance of excessive radiation exposure

There are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., including women still being treated and those who have finished treatment, proving that campaigns like Breast Cancer Awareness Month are working.

Wellness Screenings With Any Lab Test Now®

Any Lab Test Now® is a resource you can use for your family’s health and wellness. The lab tests we provide are confidential, affordable, and convenient. You own the results, and you choose how to proceed with them, whether that means consulting with your provider for further details or perhaps the results give you the peace of mind you were seeking.

Obtaining lab testing through blood tests is a very precise indicator of your health. It tracks your overall well-being, can detect issues with organs or how well you are managing a disease. It is an important look at your overall wellness.

Stay on top of your family’s health by taking charge of your wellness. Any Lab Test Now® can help by providing the lab tests you need to ensure your health. Call now to schedule an appointment at a location near you.

Build Awareness. Honor the Survivors. Support the Fighters.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s a time to raise awareness about the importance of detecting breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat. Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. The statistics you’ll find throughout this article are hard to ignore, starting with these:

About 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
1 in 39 women (3 percent) will die from breast cancer
In 2020, it’s estimated that about 30 percent of newly diagnosed cancers in women will be breast cancers.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women between ages 55 and 64.
About 10 percent of breast cancers occur in women younger than 45.

Breasts are made up of a variety of different tissues, including ducts, lobes, and glands that produce milk and carry it to the nipple. Breasts also contain lymph nodes and fatty tissue. Cancer develops when the cells in the breast mutate and grow out of control. These cells create a tumor.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

The most recognized physical sign of breast cancer is a lump in the breast tissue. While this discovery will send (and should) many women to the doctor for further examination, there are other signs and symptoms of breast cancer you should know.

Skin changes, such as swelling, redness, or other visible differences in one or both breasts
An increase in size or change in the shape of the breast(s)
Changes in the appearance of one or both nipples
Nipple discharge other than breast milk
General pain in/on any part of the breast
Lumps or nodes felt on or inside of the breast

How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?

Breast cancer is typically detected either during screening, before symptoms have developed, or after a woman notices a lump. Masses can be detected on a mammogram. Women who are diagnosed with dense breast tissue may be required to get an ultrasound screening in addition to the mammogram. Most breast lumps turn out to be benign.

However, when cancer is suspected, a physician will order a needle biopsy or a surgical biopsy to obtain a tissue sample. The selection of the type of biopsy is based on multiple factors, including the size and location of the mass, as well as patient factors and preferences and resources.

Take Control

One of the easiest things a woman can do to try and reduce her risk of breast cancer is to take charge of certain aspects of her health she can control, such as diet, exercise, and weight management. However, before making any drastic changes to lifestyle, women should get a screening that can identify the overall condition of their health.

The comprehensive female panel at Any Lab Test Now is designed for women at all stages of their life to help them make informed decisions about their healthcare goals. It includes blood counts, a metabolic panel which includes kidney and liver functions, female hormones, thyroid, heart health, and nutritional status. You don’t need to get a doctor’s order to get this or any lab test at Any Lab Test Now. You can learn more about the comprehensive female panel here.

Be An Active Participant In Your Journey Through Breast Cancer

When you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer you can expect to experience a range of emotions. One emotion that you could likely come across is anger; specifically, anger based on of your feelings of being out of control. A cancer diagnosis often leaves many patients wondering, “Why is my body doing this to me?”

Then comes the treatment process where once again, patients can sometimes feel out of control. Some patients report feeling helpless and passive, totally left out of the process of what is happening to their own bodies. It doesn’t always have to be that way.

There are ways you can become an active participant in your own journey through breast cancer and what’s more, you’ll have another team of medical professionals by your side while you do it. Any Lab Test Now is proud to stand with breast cancer patients and offer the Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel. It can help turn you from a passive victim to an active participant in your treatment and can help put you in control of your health.

What the Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel provides

In a nutshell, the Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel offered by Any Lab Test Now is three different tests in one. It’s designed to help you and your physician monitor breast cancer treatment and therapy. It does this by monitoring three different proteins:

CA 15-3
CA 27.29
CEA

Both CA 15-3 and CA 27.29 are protein markers that are normally produced by breast cells, but if you have breast cancer, the levels can increase. Basically, these tests can help doctors with a number of things. They can help your doctor understand if your cancer is responding to your treatment plan. If you’ve finished your treatment, the tests can help monitor for a reoccurrence of the disease.

Likewise, CEA is also a protein normally found in the body. Elevated levels can provide another clue for doctors and at the same time provide you with a tool so you can be an active participant in your own treatment.

It’s important to note that the Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel IS NOT A SCREENING TOOL. It is not designed to tell you if you have breast cancer.

Who should consider Breast Cancer Monitoring?

It’s basic human nature to desire at least some control over what is happening with our bodies… and that can sometimes be difficult to come by when you are battling breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel can provide that for women who are currently afflicted with the disease. On the flip side, women who are breast cancer survivors often report one of their greatest fears is that of a disease recurrence! After treatment ends you may feel suddenly alone and vulnerable, as doctors are no longer seeing you regularly. The Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel can help put you in control of your own post-cancer wellness plan and can provide you with a level of comfort that you may not have realized was available.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It’s an important time to raise awareness about the importance of detecting breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. And while most talk of breast cancer seems to be geared toward women, it’s not exclusive to women. Each year in the United States, about 245,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2, 200 cases in men.

Remember, you are not alone in your battle with this disease, and you don’t have to feel out of control. The medical professionals at your local Any Lab Test Now are proud to stand with you and help you along your journey to wellness.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: What Can You Do to Help Fight Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer affects us all, one way or another. Whether you have had it, know someone who has had it or know anyone worried about having it in the future, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is meant for you. Every October, people across the nation take steps to raise awareness about breast cancer and what can be done to help the millions of people affected by breast cancer every year. This year, we invite you to participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by getting screened for breast cancer, or encouraging someone else to do the same.

Screening Saves Lives

Over 220,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and of those women, it is estimated that about 40,000 will die from the disease. One of the best ways to fight breast cancer is to get screened for it yourself, and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Finding breast cancer early through mammograms and other screenings could reduce the number of breast cancer deaths by as much as 40 percent! Think of the lives that could be saved if you make a habit of regular breast cancer screenings while bringing awareness to others in your life as well.

If you are a woman, it is recommended that you be screened for breast cancer every year after the age of 40. However, there are reasons a woman under 40 may want to consider a breast cancer screening as well, including:

Having a strong family history of breast cancer.
Having a personal history of breast cancer.
Having the gene mutations BCRA1 or BCRA2.

Though it is less likely, men can get breast cancer too, with about 2,470 new cases diagnosed each year in the U.S. If you are a man with certain risk factors for breast cancer, such as a strong family or an inherited gene mutation, it is a good idea to get screened for breast cancer. If you are concerned about your risk for breast cancer, talk with your doctor about options for early detection and what you can do to lower your risk.

Schedule a Breast Cancer Screening Now

Any Lab Test Now offers several testing options for those who are concerned they may have breast cancer or simply want to become better informed about their breast health.

The Cancer Screen and Tumor Marker Panel for women is a great option for women who are concerned they might have cancer. This panel tests for the most common cancers.

If you have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, the Breast Cancer Monitoring Panel can help you and your physician monitor your cancer treatment and recovery process.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s try to beat breast cancer, one screening at a time — starting with yourself! Contact the experts at Any Lab Test Now to learn what testing options are right for you, and encourage others in your life to get screened for breast cancer, too. Remember, early detection saves lives!