EARLY DETECTION IS KEY

By W.L. “Hunter” Huntley, III, HAS., BC-HIS –

For most women, the thought of breast cancer is “something that happens to someone else”.  The reality is breast cancer is very common.  Excluding skin cancer, breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women, accounting for more than 1 in 4 cases in the United States.  Men are generally a low risk for breast cancer, however they are not excluded.

Caucasian women have a higher risk of breast cancer than African American women over the age of 40.  However, African American women have a higher risk before the age of 40 and are more likely to die from breast cancer at any age.  Incidence and death rates from breast cancer are lower among women of other racial and ethnic groups than African American or Caucasian women.

The most important thing a person can do is get an early diagnosis; either by self-examination, mammography or by clinical breast examination; the earlier the detection, the less risk of the disease advancing to a critical stage, and the less chance of the cancer spreading (metastasizing) to other areas of the body.

The treatment decisions, once breast cancer is discovered, are made by the patient and her physician after consideration of all the factors involved; including the biological characteristics and stage of the cancer, the patient’s age and preferences, and the risks and benefits associated with each type of treatment.  The majority of women with breast cancer will need some type of surgery.  Surgery is usually combined with other treatments such as biologic therapy, hormone therapy, radiation, and chemotherapy.

Unfortunately, some of these various types of treatments may have devastating side effects.  Chronic fatigue is one of most prevalent long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment.  Statistics suggest that fatigue may persist up to ten years in one-third of women treated.  Women with cardiovascular problems and depressive symptoms, or those treated with a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, were more likely to suffer from fatigue.

In addition, some treatments may induce hearing loss, by damaging nerves of the inner ear (ototoxicity), or via cardiovascular function, constricting proper oxygen supply to the inner ear causing auditory malfunctions.

The good news is the majority of these types of hearing losses can be treated with hearing instruments.  Hearing devices of today are highly sophisticated  compared to even a few years ago.  Digital technology now allows individuals to be prescription fitted (like eye glasses).  However, unlike your vision, new digital hearing devices can be reprogrammed (on a computer) to compensate for additional hearing deterioration over time.  In the long run, digital devices are a much better value, because they do not need to be replaced nearly as often due to their reprogramming capabilities.

Even though the cost of digital instruments is higher, it is more cost effective due to the longevity of the devices.  If you calculate the initial price of hearing devices over the period an average instrument lasts, you come up with a totally affordable investment, just a few dollars per day. (Can you really put a price on your improved quality of life?)