Waikato Business News August/September 2023

22 PINK WALK
WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS, AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023
Early detection
saves lives
From the Breast Cancer Foundation
National Register we know that if a
woman has a screen detected breast
cancer i.e. diagnosed when small, her
chance of being breast cancer free at
10 years is over 95%. This is for women
from all ethnic groups.
Breast screening
We recommend women start
having mammograms from
age 40 (annually to 50) and
then two yearly. Breast cancers
in women under the age of
50 tend to be more aggressive
hence annual mammograms
from age 40. If a woman has a
strong family history or gene
mutation identified in a close
relative, mammograms may be
recommended to commence at
an even younger age.
Currently free breast screening
mammograms are available
from age 45 – 69 years through
the Breast Screen Aotearoa
programme. In NZ there is
work being done on raising
the screening age to 74 years.
Breast screening in women 70
years and older is very effective
as cancers show up well
on mammography in this age
group.
Mammograms are
important as they;
• Can show changes in the
breast often months or years
before anything can be seen
or felt,
• Can detect breast cancer
early, which means a very
good chance of cure,
• Can detect about 75 percent
of unsuspected cancer
in women under 50 and 85
percent in women over 50,
• Are safe because only very
small amounts of radiation
are used in two-yearly
screening, though may
cause anxiety because some
changes that are detected
are not due to cancer but do
require further work-up to
prove this,
• Early detection and ensures
that treatment is less radical
treatment e.g. breast conserving
surgery and sentinel
node biopsy (removal
of only 2-3 armpit lymph
nodes) versus mastectomy
and axillary node dissection.
BreastScreen Aotearoa is
New Zealand's free two yearly
breast screening programme,
for women aged between
45-69 years.
Please phone 0800
270 200 to enrol in this
programme or online at
www.timetoscreen.nz
We encourage women to
be breast aware:
Some breast cancers may not
be seen on mammogram, so it
is important to be breast aware.
Changes in the breast to
look out for and report to
your doctor;
• A new lump or thickening
• Change in the size or shape
of the breast
• Skin reddening, dimpling
or puckering
• Any change in the nipple,
such as clear or bloody discharge
that occurs without
squeezing, or a turned-in
nipple
• Or a rash or reddening or
scalyness of the nipple
• Breast tenderness or pain
Nine out of 10 symptoms
are not due to cancer, but it’s
important so see a doctor to
be sure. Proper assessment
and referral for appropriate
further work-up is needed
to determine whether breast
changes are benign/innocent or
breast cancer.
What can you do to reduce
breast cancer risk?
All women are at risk of breast
cancer, and risk increases with
age. Understanding breast
cancer risks – those you can
control and those you can’t –
may help you to improve your
breast health;
• Regular exercise – at least
four hours per week; coming
along to the annual
Pink Walk and Run is a
good start!
• Eating a healthy diet
including low fat and
sugar, and lots of fresh fruit
and vegetables,
• Maintaining a healthy
weight, especially after the
menopause,
• Keep alcohol intake to
less than 10 drinks per
week. Ensure you have
alcohol free days,
• Breast-feed if possible.
Breastfeeding for 12 months
or more is associated
with a reduction in breast
cancer risk,
• Know your family history.
Most women who are diagnosed
with breast cancer
have no family history. A
small proportion get breast
cancer because of a heritable
cancer gene mutation.
If you have a number
of relatives affected by
breast cancer on the same
side of the family (mothers
or fathers) your risk may
be increased. Talk to your
doctor about your family
history, you may need to
start breast surveillance at a
younger age.
While the rate of death
from breast cancer is gradually
slowing, the numbers
are still far too high – each
death robs a Kiwi family of
a mother, daughter, wife,
or sister. We still need to
keep getting the message out
about early detection. With
early detection, as well as
better treatments developed
through research, more and
more women will survive
breast cancer. Early detection
also means that those
diagnosed undergo less radical
treatment, for example;
breast conservation surgery
rather than mastectomy; no
chemotherapy versus need
for chemotherapy.
Positioning
Excellence
Prosthesis
and bra fitting
specialists.
For more than 30 years, we’ve been aligning
great candidates with great opportunities, and
‘positioning excellence’ throughout Waikato.
We strive for excellence and quality in all we do. As part of our
commitment to excellence, we’re focussed on finding the right fit for
both job-seeker and employer.
So, if you’re currently looking to hire or would like to discuss your
career opportunities, get in touch with our team.
Our friendly staff can help you with:
• Your new prosthesis
• Post surgery bar fitting
• Te Whatu Ora funding
• applications
Proud Supporters of
the Breast Cancer
Research Trust
Ruth
Fleur
Temporary | Permanent | Executive | Industrial
07 839 3685 | www.assetrec.co.nz
Te Awa, The Base, Te Rapa Road, Hamilton
phone 07 849 2662 | globe www.brashop.co.nz
Supporters of the Waikato Breast Cancer Research Trust