� .... ···t c nc r I no
numb r m"
You've he rd it before, "On in
nine omen will get breast cancer."
In ct, orne ve even cl imed
t one in nine omen ready
t caneer.
All of thi hype' imply not
true. In an ttempt to convenience
more omen to h ve regul r
mamo , the American Cancer
Society (ACS) and others h ve
vily publicized the "on in nine"
myth. The numbers have ter­
rified many om n nd made them
feel doomed. The fact , nobody
doomed.
Everyone, nd e pecially
women hould understand that
hen they bear tatistics like these
that it is referring to lifetime risk
and not a current probability. Only
when women reache 85 years of
aged does her ri k of developing
brea t cancer become the much
publicized "one in nine." Here are
the real fac :
By Gge 50: 1 in 50
By Gge 60: 1 in 23
BYGge10: 1 in 13
'By Gge 80: 1 in 10
BYGge.85: 1 in 9
Clearly, age is the ingle most
important risk factor for developing
breast cancer. Others include,
having a ister or mother who has
had breast cancer, pecially if it
occurred before menopause. Early
onset of menstruation, which in­
creases yO'Ur lifelong expo ure to
high levels of estrogen, and not
having children al 0 increase your
risk.
BUT, THESE OTHER risk
factors only account for 25 percent
of all breast cancers. That is, three
out of four women who do develop
breast cancer don't have any of
the e risk factors. Also, white
women have a slightly higher risk
than African American, Hispanic,
or Asian women.
But that doesn't mean that non­
white women shouldn't be con­
cerned. All women, regardless of
race, should be well aware of the
real facts, ways of detection, and
treatment for this disease.
No one really knows why the
incidence of breast cancer is slowly
rising. It could be because more
women are being diagnosed at an
earlier age than in years past, thanks
to mammography.
BOTTOMLINE, WOMEN
are probably better off forgetting
about the misleading advertised
statistics and simply remembering
that breast cancer is a very common
and potentially life-threatening dis­
ease. More importantly, women
should be reminded that it is
curable, especially with early detec­
tion and treatment.
That's the good news. In fact,
anywhere from 30 percent to 90
percent of all women diagnosed
with breast cancer can expect to be
cured, depending on their age and
the stage of the disease. So, the
message hould be, "the earlier
diagnosed tbe better.",
Nevertheless, in 1989, breast
cancer accounted for 10 percent of
all deaths among women between
the ages of 55 and 65. We've still
got to do much better.
THE NATIONAL CANCER
Institute has a free illu trated
brochure on bow to best do a self­
exam; call them at 1-800-4-CAN­
CER, for yours.
But don't rely only on self-ex­
amination; make sure to have year­
ly examination by your physician as
well. And, most importantly, get
regular mammograms. You hould
have your flrst, or "baseline" mam­
mogram between the ages of35 and
39.
Then, continue getting a
" creening" mammogram every
other year until you're 50. After SO,
get a mammogram every year.
J
o don't require lot 0 medic 1
rvice .
HMO enr lIment h . doubt d
n 1
• •
rn Ie
n
THE FACT. ABOUT CANCER
OF THE OVARY
This year, approximately 21,lO)
women will be di osed with
ovarian cancer. AlthouJh it one
of the d dli t cancer amona
women, ovarian cancer can be c­
ully treated if detected in it
. t . For thi reason, it i
important to have yearly pelvic and
rectal exams by a doctor to check
for abnormaliti of the ovary.
Ovarian cancer i m t common
in women over SO, pecially white
omen. Factor th t appear to in­
cr the risk of thi di include
bein childl ; h villi • hi ory of
infertility; havi trona family
history of ovarian cancer; or havina
previo cancer of th br t, en­
dometrium, or colon-rectum.
Often, cancer of the ovarY, pro-
d P-
may inol
fort' the
region; indi e tion, ga, and
bloatin ; or pain durina sexual in­
tercourse. Abnormal bleedin and
abdominal pain and wellina also
may be igns of 0 Brian cancer. Fre­
quently, however, th symptoms
are ips of other conditions.
The pelvic and rectal exam i the
fir t tep in the diagno is of this
cancer. If the doctor discovers a
u piciou lump or abnormality, he
or he may want to do an ultra­
sound exam, a test u in sound
ee
mente
HMO members Uy get more
benefi th n do p tien with tradi­
tional insurance. The benefl in­
cl ude nnual physic Is,
immunizationed and well-baby
.9
The dolescent years are ldom
dull, but they needn't be difficulL
Teen-age rebellion, reports tbe Oc­
tober 1992 Reader's Digest, has been
greatly exaggerated.
"The idea that teen-agers inevitab­
ly rebel i myth that bas the poten­
tial for great family harm, II says
Sanford M. Dornbusch of the Stan­
ford Center for the Study of FamiUes,
Children and Youth.
Still, adolescene is often a trying
time of transition. Here are some
ways parents can help:
Don't tereotype.
Psychologists say there's no in";
evitable pattern to teen-age behavior,
and no such creature as a typical teen­
ager. Your teen i larger, stronger
and smarter than before, with raging
hormones. But he or he is still the
same human being you've lived with
since birth and will likely continue to'
behave in ways you've tabliahcd.
- Remain a parent. While you
want to be a friend to your child -
baring confidence and triumphs -
such friendship doe n't include
equality. Remain captain of the ship,
advises Laurence Steinberg, co­
author of "You and Your Adole
cent." Kids prefer parents who give
them leeway but set firm limits.
- Pick your battle. Coming
down hard on every petty detail esca­
late minor hassles into warfare.
When your on grows his hair his
shoulders, or your daughter experi­
ments with white makeup, accepttbe
appearance as a harmless fad. If,
however, he or she wants to attend a
party where you suspect drugs might
be used, put your foot down. "I al­
ways ask myself, 'Will it matter in 10
years?'" says one mother.
- Talk now. Don't wait to warn
your son about drunk driving until the
night he calls from the police station.
Imparting values is a long-term
process. Start early and reinforce the
behavior your expect during the teen
years.
- Be flexible. Choose a topic
such as curfew; ask for input and be
. willing to experiment. "We'll try a
lnidnight curfew on weekends; but if
you're late or tired and your school­
work uffers, it's back to 100'cloc ."
- Don't take it personally. When
your on torms in and lams his
bedroom door, the outburst may not
be directed at you. More likely, he
been criticized by a teacher or
Dubbed by a peer. Paren often
rve a handy scapegoat, so ignore
iL
- Examine your own reactiom.
Let's face it: after 12 years ofbetng
the center of your child's universe,
you may now feel relegated to the
sidelines. The teen years are the
gradual closing of one chapter in your
parent-child relationship and the start
of another, equally fulfilling phase.
- Sbow a united front. Parents
needn't tand boulder-to-shoulder
on every i ue. But they need to
maintain a pattern of "flexible team­
work," says Dr. Jack Obedzinski of
the center for Families and Children
tn Corte Madera, Calif. Discuss in
private how you'll handle a given
situation, then break the news to your
teen together.
- Don't forget to laugh. A sense
of humor helps keep things in
perspective. When her children were
teens, Dorothy Ric.h, president of the
Home & School institute in
Washington, D.C., used to keep a
giant "aspirin" nearby.
DURING PARTICULARLY
heated family discussions, she would
place ihe tablet on the table to soothe
everyone's incipient headache. It
gave the family a laugh and lowered ,
the tension.
For afree reprint of"Raising Ter­
rific Teens," send a self-addressed,
stamped envelope to Reprint
Manager, Reader's Digest, Dept.
A1092, Pleasantville, H.Y. 10570-
7000.
Charles Ro host'ofthe n -
tlonsJly syndicated" dlo program,
·Your PersonsJ Finance, • and the
uthor of The Best of Your Per­
ona/ Finance.
cancer.
When ovarian cancer
nosed, the doctor wiD remove the
tumor and .. " or 'fy the
. dependina on much, if
any, the cancer has spreIId. I
is the . form of the cancer and
e IV the most advanced.
Often, the doctor . further treat
the disease with chemotherapy
(drup) or ndiadon.
Since early detection' important
for uccesaful treatment of ovarian
cancer, be tune to In
your body IIId be sure to have •
rqular exam by • doc:tor. Many
more women orry about ovarian
than the • Ha
annual "-"4� ..... I&tk:)ft
..... II.� your mind at
Nut week: Whm YOIII' BIlby Xicla
DR. RONALD A. WHITE, p.e.
Dentl try For Adult & Children
17701 W.McNichols
(2Blocks East of Southfu!ld Freeway)
Detroit, Michigan
Hours By Appointment
(313) 533-6500
CAN YOU AFFORD TO BE SICK?
If the anew ria no, to en ure that you stay healthy, make an appointment
at the CIvIlized Medlcln Instltut. today. Eating right, thinking right,
ex.c ng properly, � going to the proper h 81th peel.llat wlJl naure
deced of high quality and alck-free living.
C 11874-2100 tC?dayll!
CMllzed Medlctne Institute, 60 E. Ferry, Detroit, Mich. 48202
Prev ntatlve and Alternative Medicine
Dlredor, Dr. Jewel Pookrum, M.D.
FOO_
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OBLEMS?
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• Prescription Arch Supports • Poor ClrulatJon
DR. N.A. IGBOKWE
8815 GRAND RIVER
DETROIT, MI 48204
481-3100
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DETROIT, I 48204
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