Catching Breast Cancer

Carole Aydell, throughout her career as a mammographer, has heard countless excuses for why women refuse to get mammograms. The misinformation, rumors, fear, and denial she witnessed with her patients inspired her to write this book. In Baring Your Breast, the author reveals the truth about mammograms: They are a life-saving tool that, if approached properly by both medical professionals and patients, are nothing to fear. Rather, they are one of the key ways to ensure the early detection of breast cancer and breast cancer is curable if you catch it early enough. This book was a labor of love for the author, who hopes only to motivate readers to be vigilant and proactive in maintaining the health of their breasts. Both women and men, from teenagers to adults, will find the information in this book helpful in explaining how to detect breast cancer early and how to ensure their mammograms are positive experiences.

This open access book focuses on diagnostic and interventional imaging of the chest, breast, heart, and vessels. It consists of a remarkable collection of contributions authored by internationally respected experts, featuring the most recent diagnostic developments and technological advances with a highly didactical approach. The chapters are disease-oriented and cover all the relevant imaging modalities, including standard radiography, CT, nuclear medicine with PET, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as imaging-guided interventions. As such, it presents a comprehensive review of current knowledge on imaging of the heart and chest, as well as thoracic interventions and a selection of "hot topics". The book is intended for radiologists, however, it is also of interest to clinicians in oncology, cardiology, and pulmonology.

The outlook for women with breast cancer has improved in recent years. Due to the combination of improved treatments and the benefits of mammography screening, breast cancer mortality has decreased steadily since 1989. Yet breast cancer remains a major problem, second only to lung cancer as a leading cause of death from cancer for women. To date, no means to prevent breast cancer has been discovered and experience has shown that treatments are most effective when a cancer is detected early, before it has spread to other tissues. These two facts suggest that the most effective way to continue reducing the death toll from breast cancer is improved early detection and diagnosis. Building on the 2001 report Mammography and Beyond, this new book not only examines ways to improve implementation and use of new and current breast cancer detection technologies but also evaluates the need to develop tools that identify women who would benefit most from early detection screening. Saving Women's Lives: Strategies for Improving Breast Cancer Detection and Diagnosis encourages more research that integrates the development, validation, and analysis of the types of technologies in clinical practice that promote improved risk identification techniques. In this way, methods and technologies that improve detection and diagnosis can be more effectively developed and implemented.

“I will always and forever feel I have a 'hole' in my life where my mother once existed.” “I think, when you have to think about the fact you might have to take care of your parents someday and juggle kids at the same time…It's a scary proposition.” “We had open communication during and before the breast cancer. But then after the breast cancer, I was often afraid to bring things up, in trying to protect Mom.” This insightful book tells the stories of women whose mothers had breast cancer. It uses their own voices to express the common fears and expectations of daughters in the periods before and during their mothers' illnesses, involving genetic risks, death and dying, and changes in their relationships. The case studies, tables and figures, and two appendices will benefit health professionals and counselors, while the poignant narratives will help mothers and daughters better understand their experiences with breast cancer. “I was kind of surprised to be alive and free of cancer at age 42, when at this point my mother was crippled by metastases. When I get to be 43—the age at which my mother died, or maybe when I get to 44—it's like, 'what do I do?' I have this life that I didn't expect to have.” Breast Cancer: Daughters Tell Their Stories presents the results of a qualitative, grounded theory study of breast cancer survivors, providing in-depth information about an aspect of breast cancer that has been previously overlooked. The book examines the daughters' experiences through four phases—the period prior to mother's illness, the period during mother's illness and treatment, the period following mother's death (if mother dies), and the long-term impact. From this study, recommendations are compiled for providing or improving services for tomorrow's daughters. “The radical mastectomy left her scarred and disfigured below her nightgown. It was bruised and nasty looking. That was kind of scary. I think that has terrified me since. Sometimes I'll have pains in my left breast and that's what I visualize. It's terrifying.” “I'm not really obsessed about dying of cancer. I'm more along the line of, 'If this is going to happen to me, and there's a chance it's going to, I'm gonna survive. I'm not going to die from it.” From an empathetic perspective, this book reveals how many daughters react to and deal with their mothers' diagnoses, depending on their age and family situation at the time of their mothers' illnesses. It shows how daughters can gain a more accurate idea of their level of risk by providing educational materials and developing new strategies for communication. It also helps breast cancer survivors see how their illnesses can shape their daughters' future outlook, offering new inspiration for resolving and preventing family crises.

'This book gives plenty of examples of ad hominem attacks, intimidation, slander, threats of litigation, deception, dishonesty, lies and other violations of good scientific practice. For some years I kept a folder labeled Dishonesty in breast cancer screening on top of my filing cabinet, storing articles and letters to the editor that contained statements I knew were dishonest. Eventually I gave up on the idea of writing a paper about this collection, as the number of examples quickly exceeded what could be contained in a single article.' From the Introduction The most effective way to decrease women's risk of becoming a breast cancer patient is to avoid attending screening. Mammography screening is one of the greatest controversies in healthcare, and the extent to which some scientists have sacrificed sound scientific principles in order to arrive at politically acceptable results in their research is extraordinary. In contrast, neutral observers increasingly find that the benefit has been much oversold and that the harms are much greater than previously believed. This groundbreaking book takes an evidence-based, critical look at the scientific disputes and the information provided to women by governments and cancer charities. It also explains why mammography screening is unlikely to be effective today. All health professionals and members of the public will find these revelations disturbingly illuminating. It will radically transform the way healthcare policy makers view mammography screening in the future. 'If Peter Gotzsche did not exist, there would be a need to invent him ...It may still take time for the limitations and harms of screening to be properly acknowledged and for women to be enabled to make adequately informed decisions. When this happens, it will be almost entirely due to the intellectual rigour and determination of Peter Gotzsche.' From the Foreword by Iona Heath, President, RCGP 'If you care about breast cancer, and we all should, you must read this book. Breast cancer is complex and we cannot afford to rely on the popular media, or on information from marketing campaigns from those who are invested in screening. We need to question and to understand. The story that Peter tells matters very much.' From the Foreword by Fran Visco, President, National Breast Cancer Coalition

The enormous expansion seen over the last decade in the mammo graphic detection of breast cancer lesions, especially the use of screen ing procedures for the early detection of clinically unsuspected tumors, has made it necessary to summarize the experience made by various centers in the world. The 2nd International Copenhagen Symposium on Detection of Breast Cancer afforded an opportunity of gathering scientists from all over the world to discuss the various problems of early breast cancer detection with special reference to screening procedures. This book forms a synthesis of the information presented by leading scientists from many of the world's mammo graphic centers, particularly those in Sweden and the USA. Hence, the reader will have the opportunity to study the outstanding work carried out by various institutes and centers of breast cancer screening. It is our sincere hope that a study of this volume will encourage other scientists to join in the work on screening procedures. S. Brunner B. Langfeldt P. E. Andersen Contents S. A. Feig: 1 Hypothetical Breast Cancer Risk from Mammography S. A. Feig: Benefits and Risks of Mammography 11 R. L. Egan and M. B. McSweeney: Multicentric Breast Carcinoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 M. B. McSweeney and R. L. Egan: Breast Cancer in the Younger Patient: A Preliminary Report 36 M. B. McSweeney and R. L. Egan: Bilateral Breast Carcinoma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ' 41 N. Bjurstam: The Radiographic Appearance of Normal and Metastatic Axillary Lymph Nodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 M. Moskowitz, S. A. Feig, C. Cole-Beuglet, S. H.

Your trusted, no-nonsense guide to detecting and managing breast cancer From the breast health experts at the American Breast Cancer Foundation comes a sensitive and authoritative guide to the most common cancer in women: breast cancer. Covering everything from prevention to dealing with a diagnosis to coping with life after cancer, it serves as a trusted resource for anyone whose life has been touched by this dreaded disease. Advancements in breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment are being made every day, but it can be overwhelming and confusing knowing where to turn and who to trust. Detecting & Living with Breast Cancer For Dummies distills the information into one easy-to-follow guide, giving you quick, expert advice on everything you'll face as you manage your breast health. From getting to know your treatment options to talking to loved ones about breast cancer—and everything in between—it does the legwork for you so you can take a deep breath and focus on your health. Perform regular self-exams the right way Cope with the many decisions that need to be made if you're diagnosed Ask the right questions about surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and breast reconstruction Decipher complicated pathology reports with confidence Whether you're at risk for breast cancer or have been diagnosed and want to know your options, Detecting & Living with Breast Cancer For Dummies empowers you to take your health into your own hands.

A guide for men whose wives contract breast cancer offers emotional support and advice every husband needs, including guidance from breast cancer doctors and the shared experiences of those who have gone through the same ordeal. Original. 30,000 first printing.