Luncheon raises breast cancer awareness and celebrates survivors
By Kyle Valentini
October 17, 2011
328
Summary: The Tuscarawas Chamber of Commerce and Union Hospital in cooperation with the Regional Cancer Center hosted a luncheon on Oct.13 as part of the annual Paint Tusc Pink campaign that promotes breast cancer awareness and the importance of early detection through mammography screening. The luncheon proceeds benefited the Tuscarawas Clinic for the Working Uninsured.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and Union Hospital, the Regional Cancer Center of Union Hospital and the Tuscarawas County Chamber of Commerce sponsored an informative luncheon Thursday, Oct. 13 at Union Country Club at Dover.
All proceeds from the luncheon were donated to the Tuscarawas County Clinic for the Working Uninsured to benefit womens health services.
Guest speaker, Tinnelle Luck, a cancer genetic counselor in the Aultman Hospital Cancer Genetics Program, shared information on hereditary breast cancer. Luck said that 70% of cancer patterns in families are sporadic. 20% are familial cancers because families share the same environment and the same genes. Only 10% are hereditary, where there is a gene that is actually causing the cancer.
Luck explained some of the risk factors for breast cancer: older age, family history, history of benign breast conditions, having children at an older age, exposure to radiation, hormonal therapy, excessive alcohol use and a high fat diet. For those of us that like to drink, it is best to limit it to 2 or less drinks a week, said Luck.
Luck described some of the red flags that can signal breast cancer might be hereditary: early age detection, multiple primary tumors in one individual, rare cancer, multiple generations of cancer, constellation of tumors and ancestral background. Particularly what we notice is individuals from eastern European countries that are of Ashkenazi Jewish decent have a higher chance of testing positive for three different genetic cancer markers, said Luck.
Luck went on to explain BRCA genes. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that belong to a class of genes known as tumor suppressors. In normal cells, BRCA1 and BRCA2 help ensure the stability of the cells genetic material (DNA) and help prevent uncontrolled cell growth. Mutation of these genes has been linked to the development of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
The names BRCA1 and BRCA2 stand for breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 and breast cancer susceptibility gene 2, respectively.
Youll also see with the BRCA2 is also associated with these six cancers, pancreatic, melanoma, which is skin cancer, stomach, gall bladder, bile duct and blood cell cancer, said Luck.
Those testing positive for a mutation in BRCA1 or BRCA2 have a 56%-87% chance of developing breast cancer while the general population only has a 7% chance according to Luck. The chance of developing ovarian cancer is lower with a 44% chance if tested positive for a mutation in BRCA1 and an even lower chance of 27% if tested positive for a mutation in BRCA2. This doesnt necessarily mean you are going to develop cancer, it just means your risk, compared to the general population, is much higher, said Luck.
Individuals testing positive for mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 have three options: increased surveillance, chemoprevention and preventive surgery. As far as increased surveillance in breast cancer, every month continue to do a self examination, have a breast exam every six months by a doctor or a nurse and have a yearly mammogram, said Luck. Luck suggests a blood test and an ultrasound every six months to check for ovarian cancer. Increased surveillance is not a proven strategy as it usually diagnoses the cancer in the later stages.
The luncheon, organized by Union Hospitals community health and wellness coordinator, Pam Dummermuth included a red velvet cupcake topped with cream cheese frosting, pink, of course. Guests lit the candle atop their cupcakes and the crowd of more than 70 people sang happy birthday to all the cancer survivors that are able to celebrate another birthday because they beat the disease.
