watzinaname 02-09-2007, 09:55 PM Sister Chat: Monday, February 12, 2007
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Voice Chat Classroom
(Sisters only!)
Topic: Breast Cancer and Black Women
Brother oldsoul posted a thread regarding the skyrocketing rates of breast cancer for Black women, and how racism plays a part. http://destee.com/forums/showthread.php?t=44970
He also dedicated one of his online classes to this topic. I want to thank you brother oldsoul, for shedding light on this topic. And I feel it is a pressing subject for sisters to discuss.
Some questions for us to ponder prior to class:
Why is breast cancer more lethal for Black women?
Do we wait too long to be diagnosed?
Once diagnosed, do we receive mediocre treatment?
Is there a genetic component whereby the cancer is more aggressive in Black women?
There are research articles that link Black women's higher tendency to be obese to getting breast cancer, what are your thoughts regarding this?
If Black women do in fact tend to get breast cancer at a younger age than white women...why is this so?
Do come and share your questions, experiences, and views on this topic.
Sister Chat: Monday, February 12, 2007
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Voice Chat Classroom
Topic: Breast Cancer and Black Women
See you there!
Peace
"Watz"
Sister Chat co-facilitator
queentswana 02-10-2007, 02:17 AM I wouldn't think about missing this one, I'm down for getting and sharing all the information our people need to know.
I'll be there.
PurpleMoons 02-10-2007, 05:04 AM Sounds very informative! I'll be there.
watzinaname 02-11-2007, 05:46 PM Hey there queentswana and Purplemoons, great knowing you'll be there. I'll be QQn for more... :)
Destee 02-11-2007, 06:14 PM Sister Watz i will be there too !!! :love:
Sounds like a great topic, and am loving the way you've outlined it for us ahead of time, as this allows us all to do a little research before hand and come prepared to share information with the group!
Great Job Sister! :toast:
:heart:
Destee
watzinaname 02-13-2007, 06:57 AM Thank you Destee. I was QQn for ya in Sister Chat, but things come up, and you were certainly with us in spirit.
Technical difficulties aside, :), we had an interesting and informative night. All in all, the general consensus was that we need more research and treatments that are specific to the genetic structure of Black women. We also need to take care about the personal products(i.e. hair products) that we use, because some contain hormones, or hormone like substances that can leave one predisposed to developing cancer. Thank you sisters for joining me and bonding!!!! Peace.
PurpleMoons 02-13-2007, 07:34 AM More about Breast Cancer
Types of Breast Cancer:
ductal carcinoma in situ
lobular carcinoma in situ
infiltrating ductal carcinoma
infiltrating lobular carcinoma
inflammatory breast cancer
medullary breast cancer
mucinous breast cancer
lymphoma of the breast
sarcoma of the breast
tubular breast cancer
male breast cancer
Stages of Breast Cancer:
Stage I
Stage II
Stages I and II are early-stage breast cancer
Stage III
Stage III is also called locally advanced breast cancer
Stage IV
Stage IV is metastatic breast cancer. The cancer has spread beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes to other parts of the body.
Recurrent
Breast cancer that recurs in the area of the initial surgery is called a local or regional recurrence. If the cancer returns in another part of the body, the distant recurrence is called metastatic breast cancer.
Metastatic Breast Cancer:
Breast cancer with bone metastases
Breast cancer with bone and lung metastases
Breast cancer with brain metastases
Breast cancer with brain and liver metastases
Breast cancer with liver and lung metastases
Breast cancer with liver metastases
Breast cancer with lung metastases
Breast cancer with meningeal metastases
Breast cancer with pleura metastases
Breast cancer with skin metastases
Breast cancer with eye metastases
Other sites of metastases: bladder
Other Factors:
Depending on whether you have gone through the menopause, your breast cancer may be described as premenopausal, postmenopausal, or perimenopausal.
Your breast cancer may be bilateral (in both breasts), contralateral (in the opposite breast), or synchronous (2 or more tumors in the same breast). It may be node-negative or node-positive
You may have aggressive breast cancer or high risk breast cancer. You may have micrometastases or your breast cancer may be considered occult.
Grade of Breast Cancer:
Grade indicates how quickly or slowly cancer cells grow. The grade is determined by the appearance of the cells under the microscope. Tumors are graded on a scale of 1 to 3.
Grade 1 - cells look most like normal tissue (called well differentiated or low-grade).
Grade 2 - cells look somewhat like normal tissue (called moderately well differentiated or moderate grade).
Grade 3 - cells appear very abnormal (called poorly differentiated or undifferentiated or high-grade). They are likely to grow more quickly and more likely to spread.
http://www.thehealthresource.com/cancer_info/breast_cancer3.cfm
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watzinaname 02-13-2007, 06:00 PM Thank you Sista Purplemoons, for such an in depth description of the various types of breast cancer. We can never know enough about this disease.
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