What the heck is going on with this BC thing????????
kezmusc
Member Posts: 1,531 ✭
Ok, so I know the figures are 1 in 8 or 1 in 7 depending on which article you read but honestly. When I was diagnosed I knew one of my friends sister had had breast cancer and my family history 3 generations ago. That was it.
I would see the bookings come through at work averaging one or two breast surgeries a week and sometimes there would be a few weeks with none at all.
Now. WOW! 4 - 6 a week with the majority being 45-55yrs and a definite rise in under 40's.
One of my friends mother in law diagnosed last year and now her mother last week. my daughters friends mother, a close work collegue a couple of months ago, a collegues sister a week after that, a collegues daughter around the same time. One of the senior medical consultants. A client drops a horse off to me and has to run or she'll be late for radiation!
Bugger me. I get in to work today and ask where so and so is. "Oh, haven't you heard" She's been diagnosed last week and is off for bilat mx and ax clearance. All of these people I know in my little circle diagnosed within the last 12 months.
Seriously what the heck is going on?
I would see the bookings come through at work averaging one or two breast surgeries a week and sometimes there would be a few weeks with none at all.
Now. WOW! 4 - 6 a week with the majority being 45-55yrs and a definite rise in under 40's.
One of my friends mother in law diagnosed last year and now her mother last week. my daughters friends mother, a close work collegue a couple of months ago, a collegues sister a week after that, a collegues daughter around the same time. One of the senior medical consultants. A client drops a horse off to me and has to run or she'll be late for radiation!
Bugger me. I get in to work today and ask where so and so is. "Oh, haven't you heard" She's been diagnosed last week and is off for bilat mx and ax clearance. All of these people I know in my little circle diagnosed within the last 12 months.
Seriously what the heck is going on?
4
Comments
lots of stats and info on risk factors out there to ponder over
Overweight
Consumption of alcohol
Lack of exercise
Delay in having children
Not breastfeeding
Living longer
Living in Australia
Yes we are more aware
Media and celebrity health status have shaped our awareness
People are more willing to share details of their health problems than they did 15/20 years ago
It has become part of our social consiousness
Undeveloped countries...well let's face it, a lot of those women don't have the privilege of aging and many would die without even having a confirmed diagnosis even if they did. Unfortunately undeveloped countries don't have the screening and health programs we do.
My grandmother died of some kind if women's cancer. She never had it investigated just treated with morphine at the end. It's only once one of her daughters was diagnosed with ovarian cancer that they knew and a further 3 developed either breast or ovarian cancer. My point...just because not included in stats doesn't mean it hasn't been happening.
Also there seems to be a big increase following any screening advertising push. Makes sense.
cancer was once a death sentence now there is hope for a lot more of us
I did take the contraceptive pill most of my life though which is a medicine marvel. Maybe that had something to do with it?
My oncologist said it was because I was female.
My mother said it was because I didn't do my holy communion right.
Well I like your mother's comment. Sums it all up - no one knows!
@Afraser I find the menopause thing a bit interesting. If the risk goes up post menopausal, does that mean all of those that were put into menopause by the treatment are now at more risk...yes or no. All the hormone positive people are trying to keep oestrogen low and mimic menopause yet the risk increases sharply after natural menopause. Go figure
People are living longer now than ever before. And one of the risks for most cancers is simply getting older. But it should be noted that the 1 in 8 figure is a lifetime risk – and that during a lifetime, risk changes. For breast cancer, risk increases sharply from around the time of the menopause – see the table below:
P.s my mother blames Agent Orange....