ILWACO – While each community is currently thinking about Halloween and other holidays around the corner, the Ocean Beach Hospital and Medical Clinic are using this month as an outlet for a cause that affects thousands of people year round.

Linda Leclaire, a Klipsan resident for more than 40 years, was diligent about her annual mammograms because of her family’s medical history. But when she went in for her yearly appointment on Dec. 24, 1998, she was at a loss for words when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 50.

With a strong support system, three sisters and a lot of shopping trips, LeClaire found the strength to survive an exhausting journey of surgeries, reconstruction, physical therapy and medication for the following three years.

“We were amazed to hear the doctor say she had breast cancer,” said her sister Kathy Hughes, who enjoys singing with her sisters. “But she has been here for us for everything that has happened in our lives, so there was no way that we wouldn’t be there for her. We had to encourage her and use our sense of humor.”

“It’s part of what we do,” agrees younger sister Karla Nelson, owner of Independent Books in Ilwaco. “We lived life as much as normal, but we also took time to bond with our female family members to keep them aware. We were able to help out our youngest sister, Lisa, when she had a cancer scare.”

Though the sisters are able to talk and laugh about the highs and lows of LeClaire’s cancer experience, each finds it imperative to educate others about cancer detection and the importance of support groups.

“Don’t miss one year in your mammograms,” stresses Leclaire, who now does what she has always wanted to do – traveling and becoming politically active. “And have someone on your side, whether it is a partner, family member or friend. Find a support group. Make sure you talk to someone about how you are feeling. You don’t always have to be the strong one.”

Risk Factors & PreventionAccording to statistics from 2002, currently women now being born will face a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer, with the risks increasing as each woman gets older.

Breast cancer, which is caused by an invasion of out of control abnormal cells in the breast tissue, is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in America.

Though it is difficult to tell when and which women will get breast cancer, doctors and physicians can make predictions by looking at each woman’s risk factors. The most common risk factors for breast cancer involve age, personal and family history, estrogen levels, diet, exercise and alcohol intake. Although predictions may not be definite for any woman, knowing about each risk factor can help reduce the chances of ever getting the disease or even help to detect it much sooner.

In many cases, the risk of developing breast cancer is much higher if a woman is over 60 years of age, started menstruation before 12 years of age, has two or more close relatives who have been diagnosed with the disease, has no children, has used hormone replacement therapy, or drinks more than two alcoholic drinks per day.

DetectionThe risks increase with age, so doctors advise that all women begin mammography screenings, or X-rays of the breasts, at the age of 40. Since each woman has different risk factors, their doctor should be able to advise them of how often they should get a mammogram. Although the average woman is advised to get screened for breast cancer every year, some are advised to get them every six months – either way, it is seen as a lifetime commitment.

“Some women don’t schedule annual exams because they don’t have a family history of breast cancer, or they’re fearful of the compression discomfort or what the outcome might be,” said Lee Ann Zimmerman, who has been a mammography technologist for seven years and is new to the Ocean Beach Hospital. “But it’s no excuse. The average age for women with breast cancer has fallen to 49 years old, and I’ve encountered one woman as young as 19. Many of our patients with breast cancer had no previous family history of it.”

Though mammograms remain the best available method to detect breast cancer early, doctors should also perform a clinical breast examination to feel for any abnormalities that may be missed by mammography. Patients should also learn how to do a breast self-examination to become familiar with their how their own body normally feels, in order to be aware if any changes develop between doctor visits.

Though many times breast cancer is virtually undetectable through regular breast examinations because of the nearly microscopic size, mammography technologists at Ocean Beach Hospital report that patients have become aware of abnormal changes when their skin had an orange-peel texture, the skin puckered or dimpled, the breast was hard or found a hard lump that didn’t move when touched.

“But always remember, just because you don’t see anything wrong doesn’t mean that you don’t need a mammogram,” Zimmerman warned. “Monthly self-examinations are a great thing to do for your health, but they do not replace a mammogram.”

Recently, the hospital has set a fundraising goal of $50,000 to go towards a new mammography unit, which can cost anywhere from $200,000 to $400,000. Along with incoming private donations, the hospital hopes to also raise money for the new equipment by holding a silent and live auction at the Inn at Harbour Village on Dec. 1.

“Though we have a great mammography unit right now, we are working towards getting a new one,” said lead mammography technologist Steve Curtis. “The one we have now takes great pictures and works great, but we would like to have the newest technology because it works better on larger areas, is easier to use, and quicker and more comfortable for our patients.”

Though mammograms have been associated with some discomfort, the average amount of time for the actual X-ray process is less than five minutes.

“If someone is unsure about what they might experience, they are more than welcome to call and ask to visit. We would gladly show our facility and equipment,” said Curtis. “We want to encourage patients to come get checked every year. The earlier the detection the better the chance of treating it.”

TreatmentOne of the most common types of breast cancer is ductal carcinoma, a cancer that starts in the duct cells of the breast. Other types of cancer include lobular carcinoma, where cancer first develops in the lobes or lobules, and inflammatory breast cancer – an uncommon type of breast cancer that causes the breast to become hot, red and swollen.

While sometimes breast cancer can be self-confined to one malignant tumor, cancer cells can also break away from the original tumor and be transported to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or the lymphatic system. Depending on the cancer’s stage of development, treatment options can be surgery, radiation, chemotherapy or hormonal therapy.

For patients’ comfort and convenience, the Ocean Beach Hospital offers several outpatient rooms that are dedicated to providing a private, home-like atmosphere for chemotherapy patients. Complete with a table setting, comfortable recliner chairs, an entertainment center, a stereo, and quilts and blankets, the rooms offer a private place for patients to relax during chemotherapy treatment. And since hospital staff always encourages patients to bring support with them, the rooms are spacious enough to accommodate a few friends to keep them company.

“Having family or friends as support helps keep a positive outlook,” said Carol Moore, an oncology registered nurse whose hospital scrubs are patterned with the recognizable breast cancer pink ribbon. “I am so happy to provide chemo care for our residents, it’s so rewarding. Even though I see them at a low time in their lives, we become a family. When their chemo treatments are over, I’m sad to see them go. I know it’s a good thing that they are leaving and are healthy again, but I miss them.”

Breast cancer in menAlthough it is rare, men also develop breast cancer and account for one percent of all breast cancer cases. Though it can develop at any age, breast cancer is usually detected in men who are 60- to 70-years old.

According to the American Cancer Society, this year 1,720 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men include: nipple discharge (usually bloody), nipple inversion, breast lump, and occasionally, local pain, itching and pulling sensation.

“Though society doesn’t often think of it, men also get mammograms,” said Bonnie Spaulding, a mammography technologist at Ocean Beach Hospital since 1992. “Men should not be embarrassed about requesting a mammogram. If left untouched, a slight abnormality could become a silent killer.”