Breast Cancer: A Survivor

Did you know that Linda Monroe, the mayor of the Town of Capitol Heights, is a breast cancer survivor? Neither did we. Since October is breast cancer awareness month, today we wanted to not only celebrate with her, but also discuss the disease.

(PHOTO Courtesy of Linda Monroe Mayor)

According to Judy C. Boughey, a medical surgeon at Mayo Clinic, breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer world-wide. "Currently, nearly 4 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer."

(PHOTO Mayo Clinic, Judy Boughey, M.D.)

BREAST CANCER EXPLAINED:

Breast cancer is, like any form of cancer, an abnormal growth of tissues. It forms in the cells of breast. Breast cancer is more common in females, but men can get breast cancer too. When healthy cells grow out of control, they can become tumorous. The regions most commonly infected are the following: the nipple, the glands that make breast milk, and the ducts that carry the milk.

DETECTION:

Around the age of 35-40, a yearly mammogram is recommended. Mammography uses low energy x-ray to examine human breast to screen for breast cancer. Many have learned to do a self-evaluation to detect for breast cancer as well.

Mayor Linda Monroe's detection journey was, unfortunately, not that unique. "I had the chance to prevent the disease from getting so bad before it did. My doctors told me I had dense breast tissue in 2019. I should have stayed on top of it until we knew exactly what it was and took care of it right away. However, I did not. It wasn't until later when I finally went for a more aggressive test (beyond just a mammogram) that we discovered it was breast cancer. I am at stage 2b with invasive/spreading cells. My message, now, is simple. Get tested and stay on top of it. The good news is breast cancer does not have to be a death sentence," the mayor told TMC.

(IMAGE Designed by wenzdai figueroa)

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE:

In 1937, Congress passed the National Cancer Act of 1937 which allocated support and funding to researchers and doctors to further study cancer. This led to the founding of the US government's agency on cancer, the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The act was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Then, in 1971, President Nixon signed the National Cancer Act of 1971. It further expanded the government's support for cancer research and training. It established NCI as an operating division of National Institute of Health (NIH).