Think Pink: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is a killer. It is the second most common type of cancer in American women (second only to skin cancer), and it’s expected that more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer by the end of 2016. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, we have been personally touched by breast cancer. Tanique Plaxen, wife of Bruce Plaxen, is a survivor of breast cancer. We have had staff and family of staff affected by breast cancer.

During October, we want you to “think pink,” and get the real facts about breast cancer. Together, we can take the steps necessary to put an end to this deadly disease once and for all.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer

Here’s the good news: breast cancer can be diagnosed early, through screening tests called mammograms. When it’s found in the early stages, it can be treated more easily, and increase the rate of survival. Make sure you and the ones you love have annual mammograms, because early detection saves lives. You can also do regular self-checkups in between annual screenings, which can help with early detection. The most common signs that you might be at risk of breast cancer include:

• Detecting a lump or mass in your breast
• Swelling in the breast (all of it or part of it)
• Redness, irritation, dimpling, thickening or scaliness of the skin or the nipple
• Pain in the breast or nipple
• Nipple retraction
• Nipple discharge

Make sure you also check your lymph nodes (around the collar bone and in the armpit) for swelling or pain, too, as it’s possible for them to present with symptoms even before you feel it in your breast.

Getting the treatment you need

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, you have a few options for treatment. The American Cancer Society puts them into two different groups:

• Local treatments, which include surgery to remove the tumor or radiation therapy
• Systemic treatments, which includes chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy (drugs which target the specific growth-promoting protein HER2/neu)

People who are diagnosed with a later stage of breast cancer will need more time for treatment. As with any cancer, a late-stage diagnosis will decrease your chances of full remission, which is why it is so important that both women AND men perform self-checkups regularly.

A quick note about genetic testing

Angelina Jolie and Christina Applegate both made headlines when they chose to have double mastectomies because they inherited mutations in their BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. This has led to an increased interest in this type of preventative treatment (often dubbed the “Angelina Jolie Effect,” though Applegate underwent the surgery 6 years earlier). Some insurance policies will cover what they call “genetic counseling,” including those policies available through the Affordable Care Act.

This decision to undergo preventative surgery should not be taken lightly. The National Cancer Institute offers an incredibly detailed yet easy-to-read explanation about the genes, the mutations, and the implications of a positive test. Please read their outline carefully before making any decision.

Resources for fighters, survivors and families affected by breast cancer

There are a number of resources available to people who are undergoing treatment or who have been touched by breast cancer in some way. Here, we have a list of some of the local chapters of support groups in Maryland, as well as resources you can use to help fight for a cure:

• From Maryland.gov: A PDF of local resources for screenings, local hospitals and charities.
• From the Baltimore Sun: Email addresses and telephone numbers for local support groups for families and survivors.
• From the American Cancer Society: A list of programs and videos to help you understand more about breast cancer, and what you can do to help others.
• Barbells for Boobs: We’re a proud supporter of Barbells for Boobs, which provides free mammograms and care for people who cannot afford it without help.

It’s time to put an end to cancer once and for all. Let’s join this fight together.

Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. is an elite Maryland personal injury law firm, and a proud supporter of breast cancer awareness. If you would like to learn more about our services, or speak with an experienced Baltimore injury lawyer, please call 410-730-7737 or fill out our contact form.