Breast Cancer Awareness

Part VI - Breast Self Examination


The breast self-examination (BSE)  is an examination of the breasts, performed by a woman, ideally one time per month. The goal of the breast self-examination is for a woman to notice changes in the breast that should be brought to the attention of a physician for further evaluation. These include breast lumps, changes in the breast shape, size, or contour, or skin changes. Randomized trials have shown no decrease in breast cancer mortality among women performing monthly breast self-examination.

To complete a monthly BSE:
When lying down  -   place a pillow under the right shoulder and position the right arm behind the head. Using the finger pads of the three middle fingers on the left hand, check the entire breast area. Use small circles and follow an up-and-down pattern while pressing firmly enough to know how the breast feels from month to month. This exam should then be repeated on the left breast using the finger pads of the right hand with the pillow under the left shoulder.

When standing before a mirror -  any changes in the shape or look of the breasts should be checked. In order to look for any skin or nipple changes such as dimpling or nipple discharge, the arms should first be placed at the sides and then overhead. Hands are then placed firmly on hips to flex chest muscles, and then the body should be bent forward

When taking a shower  -  the right arm should be raised. By using soapy hands and fingers flat the right breast and outer part of the breast can be examined. The same small circles and up-and-down pattern used when lying down should be used in an upright position. Repeat on the left breast.

The American Cancer Society recommends monthly breast self-examination for women over the age of twenty.    

The Lions Club of Castries urges its members to  encourage friends and family  and to undertake their monthly BSE.  And remember always bring to the attention of your physician any changes you may notice.

Breast Cancer Awareness

Part V

Types of breast cancer

There are several different types of breast cancer that can be divided into two main categories - noninvasive cancers and invasive cancers. Noninvasive cancer may also be called "carcinoma in situ." Noninvasive breast cancers are confined to the ducts or lobules and they do not spread to surrounding tissues. The two types of noninvasive breast cancers are ductal carcinoma in situ (referred to as DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (referred to as LCIS).

Non-invasive breast cancer. The majority of non-invasive breast cancers are DCIS. In DCIS, the cancer cells are found only in the milk duct of the breast. If DCIS is not treated, it may progress to invasive cancer.

In LCIS, the abnormal cells are found only in the lobules of the breast. Unlike DCIS, LCIS is not considered to be a cancer. It is more like a warning sign of increased risk of developing an invasive breast cancer in the same or opposite breast. While LCIS is a risk factor for invasive cancer, it doesn't actually develop into invasive breast cancer in many women.

Invasive breast cancer. Invasive or infiltrating breast cancers penetrate through normal breast tissue (such as the ducts and lobules) and invade surrounding areas. They are more serious than noninvasive cancers because they can spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, and brain.

Note: This information does not substitute for a consultation or visit with your health care provider.

Reference - American Cancer Society website

Breast Cancer Awareness

Part IV

Stages of Breast Cancer

Stage 0 - is carcinoma in situ, early stage cancer that is confined to the ducts or the lobules, depending on where it started. It has not gone into the tissues in the breast nor spread to other organs in the body.

• Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): This is the most common type of noninvasive   breast cancer, when abnormal cells are in the lining of a duct. DCIS is also   called intraductal carcinoma. DCIS sometimes becomes invasive cancer if not   treated.

• Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS): This condition begins in the milk-making   glands but does not go through  the wall of the lobules. LCIS seldom becomes    invasive cancer; however, having LCIS in one breast increases the risk of   cancer for both breasts.

Stage I - is an early stage of invasive breast cancer. In Stage I, cancer cells have not spread beyond the breast and the tumor is no more than 2 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch) across.

Stage II - is one of the following:
• The tumor in the breast is no more than 2 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch)    across. The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

• The tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters (three-quarters of an inch to 2 inches). The cancer may have spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

• The tumor is larger than 5 centimeters (2 inches). The cancer has not spread to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Stage III - may be a large tumor, but the cancer has not spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes. It is locally advanced cancer.

Stage IIIA - is one of the following:
o The tumor in the breast is smaller than 5 centimeters (2 inches). The cancer has spread to underarm lymph nodes that are attached to each other or to other structures.
o The tumor is more than 5 centimeters across. The cancer has spread to the underarm lymph nodes.

Stage IIIB - is one of the following:
o The tumor has grown into the chest wall or the skin of the breast.
o The cancer has spread to lymph nodes behind the breastbone.
o Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare type of Stage IIIB breast cancer. The breast     looks red and swollen because cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin     of the breast.

Stage IIIC - is a tumor of any size. It has spread in one of the following ways:
o The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes behind the breastbone and under the arm.
o The cancer has spread to the lymph nodes under or above the collarbone.

Stage IV - is distant metastatic cancer. The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
Recurrent cancer - Recurrent cancer is cancer that has come back (recurred) after a period of time when it could not be detected. It may recur locally in the breast or chest wall as another primary cancer, or it may recur in any other part of the body, such as the bone, liver, or lungs, which is generally referred to as metastatic cancer.

Talking VAT

On Thursday October 15, the Lions Club of Castries devoted its social meting to talk VAT.  The guests at  that meeting were Mr Augustus Amede and Mr Kurt Reynolds from the VAT Office. 

 

Some of the issues highlighted included:
What is VAT?
The Value Added Tax system or VAT as it is commonly known, is an indirect tax usually on imports and the added value to the goods and services, supplied by one business to another or to a final consumer.  VAT is designed to ensure that most forms of consumer spending are taxed evenly and fairly.

How will VAT affect me?
Final Consumers: Because VAT replaces and reduces the number of indirect taxes on the goods and services you currently buy or use,m oftentimes the final price of most good and services will be reduced.  The prices of goods and services which currently have little or no taxes are likely to increase.  However, in order to not have an adverse effect on the lives of vulnerable groups in society, some goods will be exempted from VAT and others will be taxed at a rate of zero percent.  This means the final consumer will pay no tax on these purchases.

Businesses: If you are a registered business, you will pay VAT on your purchase from another registered business.  You will charge VAT on the sales you make, but you can off-set the VAT paid against the VAT collected.  The difference is paid to or available for refund from government........

If you  are not registered for VAT, you will pay VAT on your  purchases form any registered business.  You cannot charge VAT or claim credit for any VAT you have paid.

 














For further information visit the VAT Implementation  Project Office at No. 4 Bridge Street Castries, Saint Lucia or the website: www.vat.gov.lc

Lions Observe World Service Day

Lions World Service day is observed each year on October 08.  The objective of this day is to allow Lions to:

• build community pride by participating in a community project;
• make the club an example of  civic engagement;
• build goodwill for the club;
• contribute to social capital;
• builds community pride;
• introduce the club and the difference it makes to community;

 

The Lions Club of Castries in observance of that day visited the Corner Stone Halfway house at Vigie and presented the residents with hampers of toiletries.

Preventing Blindness through Education

To combat the leading causes of blindness and assist in preserving vision, the Lions Club of Castries participated in Lions World Sight Day on October 8 to heighten awareness and education about sight preservation and preventable blindness.

The Castries Lions joined this global event by educating the students of the Carmen Renee Memorial  School on  prevention of blindness and conservation of sight.

                                                                                                                         

 

The students were addressed by Ms. Jessica Jacobie who was born blind and has attained her Bachelor’s degree from the University of the West Indies.  She informed the students that she did not let her blindness keep her back and although she went through many challenges and obstacles this did not deter her from achieving what she wanted.  She asked the students to be patience with blind persons when they come across them and do not laugh or ridicule them.

Excerpt from the International President's October message

Move To Grow Campaign  International Eberhard Wirfs

..... The club is like the ginkgo tree which I adopted as the symbol of my MOVE TO GROW theme.  Like the ginkgo, a club needs to be nurtured and cultivated to continue growing, it needs to stretch and move to receive sun light, and it needs to adapt to the environment around it to survive.  Yet sometimes change happens slowly enough where we don't even notice it, and then we find ourselves behind.

This can also be true for clubs, especially older ones, where ways of working and meeting may have become routines, where activities and projects may have become a bit out dated, and where membership might have been going slowly down as a result.

But such challenges can be addressed, if you - the Club Leaders - create a plan and commit to action.  Sometimes it's as simple as adopting a new project, or recruiting a few younger members to bring a spark of new ideas, or changing the format of your club meetings and activities to liven things up.   So during the next three months, I'm humbly asking all clubs to adopt at least one new strategy to make your club even more vibrant.........

There are many strategies that can help existing clubs grow, such as:
    * Inviting more spouses and women through the We Need You campaign.
    * Organizing recruiting campaigns using Lions Clubs International's "Best Practices."
    * Forming club branches
    * Identifying clubs below 20 members in need of special assistance

LIONS LET US MOVE TO GROW

Lions Observe White Cane Day

In 1926 Helen Keller challenged the Lions to band together to SERVE the blind and vision impaired.  One of the first great steps of Lionism  was the creation of the white cane, which make the blind person more mobile. Today it is one of the many ways the lions help the visually impaired

White Cane Day is observed on October 15 of every year to increase awareness of the use of the white cane and laws governing its use.  It is also a day to celebrate the achievements, aspirations and independence of people who are blind or visually impaired.  It is a day to make people fully aware of the meaning of the white cane and of the need for motorists to exercise special care for the blind person who carries it.

In keeping with Lions' established tradition of assisting the blind, the members of the Lions Club of Castries will take to the streets of Castries on Saturday, October 17, 2009 to raise funds.  The  Fund donated by community members will be used to assist the St. Lucia Blind Welfare Association, our Kids In Sight Project and various other sight programmes.

Look for Lions on Street corners and the Malls on Saturday October 17, 2009.

Do you think that there are sufficient laws governing the use of the white cane?

Lions Appreciation Night

On October 10, 2009 the Lions Club of Castries  brought together its social partners to recognize their contributions towards the Club's community and service projects. 

Lion Lyndell Gustave the Immediate Past President and coordinator of this event had this to say
"we are here to recognize the contributions that you our social partners have made, in the different forms, from finance, media, hospitality or giving service, which have assisted in the successful implementation of our many community projects.

Throughout the years we continue to build generous partnerships with people and organizations like you who believe in working together with us in our various projects especially our fund-raising activities the proceeds of which   goes back into the community.

This evening’s function is a small token of our appreciation for your efforts and unflinching support and active involvement in promoting community service especially our "Kids In Sight Project" which has allowed a number of young children in Saint Lucia to receive various corrective eye surgeries.  Your continued support of our Annual Candlelight Dinner is testimony of this."

We value your contribution and look forward to building stronger linkages as you join the Lions in service, making a difference  everyday everywhere.

Breast Cancer Awareness

 

 
Part III

Will You Get Breast Cancer?

The Pill. Coffee. Sun. Confused about whether these and other factors put you at risk for breast cancer? Here's the latest thinking on when to worry—and when to relax.

Mammograms
There's a common misconception that radiation from annual mammograms causes breast cancer. But leading experts say it just isn't so. Mammograms expose you to only about 18 millirems of radiation per exam. Today's mammography machines emit significantly less radiation than machines of 30 years ago.

Caffeine
Good news: There's no need to skip your daily java fix. Several major studies—including one published this past January in the Annals of Epidemiology—have found absolutely no link between caffeine consumption and breast cancer.

Dairy
There are rumors that compounds in cow's milk contribute to breast cancer, but there's no evidence to support that, In fact, several studies—including a Norwegian study published in The International Journal of Cancer—have found that women who drank more than three glasses of milk every day had a lower incidence of breast cancer.

Lumpy breasts
Doctors have a scary name for lumpy breasts: fibrocystic breast disease. But although the word "disease" may induce panic, lumpy breasts are extremely common and not linked to breast cancer. Having lumpy breasts makes breast self-exams even more important. You need to get a good sense of your breast-tissue texture so you can distinguish between merely fibrocystic changes and an actual new lump.

Bras
The bra rumor is based on the hypothesis set forth by husband-and-wife anthropologists a few years ago in the book Dressed to Kill: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Bras, in which they claimed that bras—especially underwire bras—constrict lymphatic tissue, allowing cancer-causing toxins to build up

Research has proven that bras—even tight-fitting ones—don't interfere with lymphatic drainage at all." There have been many large-scale studies of what increases breast-cancer risk, and none of them have found any connection between wearing a bra and breast cancer.

Having one drink (or more) a day
Women who have one alcoholic drink every day up their chances of getting breast cancer by about 9 percent from those of women who don't drink at all, according to a 1998 study done at the Harvard Medical School of Public Health in Boston. We found that breast-cancer risk increased by about 9 percent for every daily drink consumed. So is it safe to drink at all? Yes, in moderation, limiting your intake to a drink a day.

Piling on the pounds
Carrying extra weight means more than being self-conscious in a bathing suit: It may actually up your chances of getting breast cancer. After menopause, being overweight can increase your risk for breast cancer by up to 60 percent, according to one study. (Researchers are still unsure exactly how much weight gain is too much, so check with your doctor.)

Being a couch potato
There's plenty of evidence that going out and breaking a sweat can help lower breast-cancer risk. One study at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles found that women who participated in at least four hours of exercise a week during their premenopausal years had a 58 percent lower breast-cancer risk than women who were inactive. Studies have shown that exercise may increase your body's production of cancer-fighting cells. Aim for at least three 45-minute sessions a week.

Postponing motherhood
Women who have their first full-term pregnancy after 30 or never give birth at all are at slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer. Studies also suggest that breastfeeding offers a bit of protection against the disease, particularly against postmenopausal breast cancer.

Not eating your broccoli
A few florets a day may keep breast cancer at bay. Research at the Strang Cancer Prevention Center in New York found that women who daily ate a mixture of cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, etc.) showed significant reductions in an estrogenic compound believed to cause breast cancer.

Note: Even leading experts are still scratching their heads over conflicting research in the following areas:

The Pill
A reassuring recent report in The New England Journal of Medicine found no link between Pill use and breast cancer. But other studies have found a slight connection.

A high-fat diet
Two recent Harvard Medical School of Public Health studies found that women who ate a low-fat diet weren't any less likely to get breast cancer than women who ate a diet higher in fat. Still other research says that eating monounsaturated fat (such as olive oil) may lower risk.

Sun exposure
Women who live in sunny areas have lower breast-cancer rates than women who don't. The likely reason: The sun's UVB rays enable your body to produce vitamin D, which may reduce breast-cancer risk


Extracted from MSN Health and Fitness – October 05, 2009

Gender and Eye Health - equal access to care

The Lions Club of Castries joins with VISION 20/20 in fighting against blindness in children.

Up to 80% of the world's blindness is avoidable.

Avoidable blindness is defined as blindness which could be either treated or prevented by known, cost-effective means. Although there are many other causes of vision impairment. VISION 2020 seeks to address the main causes of avoidable blindness, in order to have the greatest possible impact on vision loss worldwide.

 The causes of childhood blindness vary, but the main avoidable causes are:

• cornea scarring;
• cataract
• glaucoma
• retinopathy of prematurity
• refractive errors
• low vision, which encompasses visual impairment and blindness from untreatable causes;

Lions World Service Day

October 08, 2009 also marks World Service Day for Lions around the world.

The Lions Club of Castries in observance of this day will be visiting the Corner Stone Halfway House at Vigie. A donation of toiletries will be made to the residents of this home.

Lions World Sight Day : Focusing Attention on Preventing Blindness and Improving Sight

Lions World Sight Day (LWSD) which was created to recognize and reinforce the importance of eradicating preventable blindness is held annually on the second Thursday of October. Lions clubs around the world are encouraged to participate by sponsoring local activities and programs, either on Lions World Sight Day or some time during October to educate their communities about the need to conquer preventable blindness and preserve sight.

The Lions Club of Castries in observance of this day will be holding an open discussion at the Carmen Rene Memorial School, Sans Souci. The guest at this Discussion will be Jessica Jacobie a visually impaired young lady who has been very successful despite her visual impairment.

Save a Lid to Save a Life

The Lions Club of Castries joins with Yoplait and Super J in the fight against breast cancer.
Purchase any yoplait cup featuring the pink lid and Yoplait and Super J will donate ten cents from each sale to the Saint Lucia Cancer Society as their continued promise for support in the fight against breast cancer.

Donations based on purchases made between October 01 and November 15, 2009.



Come join in the fight against breast cancer and make the promise stronger.


Note: there is no need to return the lid - Just make the purchase

Outstanding Leos for the first Quarter July - September 2009

The President's recognition award for outstanding Leo for the quarter went to Leos Stasha Stanislaus and Jana Jules





The President Leo Jayeur Joseph has this to say about the Two Leos

"To date these two individuals have shown commitment and passion for the club. They both have attended meetings regularly, attended most club projects. They are both punctual and reliable individuals. I applaud you both for your various contributions throughout this quarter. BRAVO TO YOU TWO AND KEEP IT UP!!!!"

Breast Cancer Awareness

Part II

Common symptoms of breast cancer include:

A change in how the breast or nipple feels

1. A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
2. Nipple tenderness

A change in how the breast or nipple looks

1. A change in the size or shape of the breast
2. A nipple turned inward into the breast
3. The skin of the breast, areola, or nipple may be scaly, red, or swollen. It may have ridges or pitting so that it looks like the skin of an orange.

A TAX for us all!

Saint Lucia to be VAT - ready by April 2010
For more information and answers to your questions on the introduction of VAT in Saint Lucia come to our Social Meeting on October 15, 2009 when the Team from the VAT Implementation Project will be our guest.

Information extracted from the VAT Implementation Project magazine issue one May 2009

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Part I
Understanding Cancer

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the organs of the body.

Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes, this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. These extra cells can form a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.

Tumors can be benign or malignant:

Benign tumors are not cancer:
• Benign tumors are rarely life-threatening.
• Generally, benign tumors can be removed. They usually do not grow back.
• Cells from benign tumors do not invade the tissues around them.
• Cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.

Malignant tumors are cancer:
• Malignant tumors are generally more serious than benign tumors. They may be life-threatening.

• Malignant tumors often can be removed. But sometimes they grow back.
• Cells from malignant tumors can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs.
• Cells from malignant tumors can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Cancer cells spread by breaking away from the original (primary) tumor and entering the bloodstream or lymphatic system. The cells invade other organs and form new tumors that damage these organs. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
When breast cancer cells spread, the cancer cells are often found.

Note: This information does not substitute for a consultation or visit with your health care provider.
Reference - American Cancer Society