National Breast Cancer Awareness Research Articles

Breast Cancer Stage Migration in Saudi Arabia: Examining the Influence of Screening.

Breast Cancer Stage Migration in Saudi Arabia: Examining the Influence of Screening.

Walking into Democratic Citizenship: Anti-Corruption Protests in Romania’s Capital

Walking into Democratic Citizenship: Anti-Corruption Protests in Romania’s Capital

October and Obesity Care Week

Two important health care conditions are given special recognition each year during the month of October: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Obesity Care Week. While my thoughts go out to all who are impacted by breast cancer, I want to focus this month’s Letter on obesity and Obesity Care Week, October 7 – 13. According to the CDC, approximately 40% of adults in the U.S. are obese. Heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer are related to obesity. These diseases are major causes of preventable deaths and each day impact the lives of the patients we see. The treatment for obesity is complicated since multiple factors contribute to the disease. However, NPs are well positioned to help patients who are obese lose weight and manage chronic disease. To address the obesity issue and prepare NPs to provide a patient-centered approach to obesity and weight management, AANP is offering a free, in-depth, seven module CE activity through May 2019 in the AANP CE Center. Completion of all seven modules in the bundle will earn the learner an Introductory Certificate of Obesity Management in Primary Care and provide seven contact hours of CE, including one contact hour that may be used toward pharmacology credit. AANP also offers a Specialty Practice Group (SPG) related to the care of patients who are obese. As members of the SPG, NPs are provided an opportunity to network with other NPs who care for patients with weight issues. Please take advantage of these excellent opportunities to help fight obesity and assist patients with the prevention of this chronic disease that impacts longevity and the quality of life.

Cancer and Social Media: A Comparison of Traffic about Breast Cancer, Prostate Cancer, and Other Reproductive Cancers on Twitter and Instagram

Social media are often heralded as offering cancer campaigns new opportunities to reach the public. However, these campaigns may not be equally successful, depending on the nature of the campaign itself, the type of cancer being addressed, and the social media platform being examined. This study is the first to compare social media activity on Twitter and Instagram across three time periods: #WorldCancerDay in February, the annual month-long campaigns of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) in October and Movember in November, and during the full year outside of these campaigns. Our results suggest that women’s reproductive cancers – especially breast cancer – tend to outperform men’s reproductive cancer – especially prostate cancer – across campaigns and social media platforms. Twitter overall generates substantially more activity than Instagram for both cancer campaigns, suggesting Instagram may be an untapped resource. However, the messaging for both campaigns tends to focus on awareness and support rather than on concrete actions and behaviors. We suggest health communication efforts need to focus on effective messaging and building engaged communities for cancer communication across social media platforms.

PINK RIBBON AND PINKTOBER

The month of October comes with a familiar sight of ‘pink ribbon’ display and events organized in this context, globally. While this is an integral part of the international calendar in the developed world, developing countries like Pakistan attach little importance to promotion of this concept brand. One of the reasons for this apathy is a lack understanding amongst the social circles and general population about what the pink ribbon advocates. This editorial is meant to highlight the true spirit and importance of this symbol.
 A ‘pink ribbon’ is an international symbol of breast cancer awareness with the month of October referred to as ‘pinktober’ chosen as the breast cancer awareness month in many countries over the world. Breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst the female gender with more than one million women worldwide diagnosed with the disease every year. The WHO in its global health estimate reported 508000 deaths in women worldwide from this disease in the year 20111.More than 58% of deaths from breast cancer are known to occur in less developed countries2, which sets aside the misconception that the disease is a problem of the more affluent class. Early detection of breast cancer with its favorable impact on morbidity and mortality associated with the disease is now established as the cornerstone of management3.
 Against the backdrop of the magnitude and impact of this condition there is a dire need for creating awareness about the symptoms and treatment of the disease as well as promoting research and facilities leading to early detection, multimodality treatment and support for those suffering from the disease. Pink ribbon as a concept brand allows a platform to achieve these goals by raising money and encouraging scientific progress. The first known use of Pink Ribbon dates back to 1991 when it was handed out by the Susan G Koman foundation to participants of a New York city race for breast cancer survivors and adopted as an official symbol in 19924. Buying, wearing, displaying or sponsoring pink ribbon is a sign of support for women health. Thousands of pink ribbon products are advertised and sold each year with part of the earnings spent in promoting breast cancer awareness and funding research.
 The month of October as the national breast cancer awareness month (NBCAM) was started in 1985 by the American Cancer Society and pharmaceutical company Astra Zeneca. The organization behind NBCAM is keen on promoting mammography as a screening tool for early detection of breast cancer. Running, walking and riding besides observing pink dress day and pink hijab day form the essence of events organized globally as fundraisers under this banner.
 The campaign for helping breast cancer patients is not limited to diagnosis and treatment only. Addressing the burden of physical, social and psychological stigma associated with the disease is as important as the initial steps in management. The term She-ro, derived from hero is sometimes used to refer to those suffering from the disease. After treatment, the she-ro regains her femininity by using breast reconstruction, prosthetic devices, wigs, cosmetics, and clothing to present an aesthetically appealingappearance5.Breast cancer culture, or pink ribbon culture, refers to steps taken in public to effectively address different aspects of the disease. It supports the efforts of the doctors, promotes diagnostic modalities such as mammograms and various treatment options on offer for breast cancer patients.
 Pakistan has the highest rate of breast cancer in Asia. One out of every nine women is at the risk of breast cancer making the Pakistani women most susceptible to the disease after the non Arab Israeli women6. Studies have shown that a significant number of young women make the afore-mentioned list. Therefore, Pink Ribbon has reading-prc-Iterature been running Youth Awareness Program in collaboration with Higher Education Commission (HEC) since 2012. This program not only educates the young women about the importance of self-examination and screening modalities like ultrasound scan and mammograms but also through their interaction with members of their family and society makes them conscious of the disease and advocating regular check-ups. Benefit is also derived from established women groups and Lady Health workers who are in contact with the population in far-flung areas of the country, in spreading awareness to the grass root level. In collaboration with Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission hospitals, Pink ribbon has launched a free nationwide Breast Cancer screening program and is working on building a dedicated Breast Cancer Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.
 Realizing the disease burden and the health, social and financial implications of breast cancer it is imperative that Pink Ribbon as a source of Breast Cancer awareness is propagated in the society and an all out moral and material support be extended to the organizations working under this banner.

7P - Breast cancer awareness and early detection practices among Omani women: A cross-sectional survey

Background: This study was conducted to assess Omani women’s general awareness of breast cancer and early detection behaviour to develop a national breast cancer awareness intervention in order to empower women with better early detection practices and improve survival. Methods:We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 1372 Omani women of age ≥20 years from 5 regions of Oman. Women were recruited using stratified random sampling. The survey collected demographic information and scored variables of early detection (ED) behaviour and general awareness (GA) of breast cancer. The scores were compiled into overall ED and GA scores, and means were calculated for age groups, education levels and income levels. The association and correlation between each demographic variable and score variables were estimated using linear regression and Pearson’s correlation. The extent of belief in “evil eye” or envy as a risk factor for breast cancer was also estimated for each demographic variable.

National breast cancer awareness campaign to launch next week

National breast cancer awareness campaign to launch next week

Knowledge and practices of women in Iraqi universities on breast self examination

This study evaluated the knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE), among a sample of educated Iraqi women. The study sample comprised 858 women aged 18-62 years affiliated to 6 major Iraqi universities, categorized according to occupation as teaching staff (11.5%), administrative staff (18.0%) and students (70.5%). Data were collected by a self-completed questionnaire. In all, 93.9% of the women had heard about BSE, the main source of information was television (39.9%), doctors (18.4%) and the awareness campaign of the Iraqi National Breast Cancer Research Programme (11.6%). Only 53.9% of the women practised BSE; the most common excuses by those that did not were lack of knowledge of the significance of BSE (42.0%) and lack of confidence in their ability to perform BSE (39.5%). Just over 38% did not seek medical advice if they experienced signs/symptoms of breast disease, attributing that to reasons of timidity, lack of time or fear of discovering cancer. The majority (88%) of the women were willing to instruct others in BSE (aftertraining), 40% of whom were interested in collaborating with the National Breast Cancer Awareness Programme in Iraq.

Health awareness campaigns and diagnosis rates: Evidence from National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Awareness campaigns are often used to encourage medical screening that allows for early detection of health problems, but much remains unknown about the effectiveness of these programs. This paper evaluates whether National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) has led to increased diagnosis of breast cancer. The analysis examines the number of diagnoses made in November (1 month after NBCAM) during years before and after NBCAM was initiated. We find that from 1993 to 1995, the period when breast cancer advocacy was expanding rapidly into a nationwide movement, NBCAM led to an increase in the number of November diagnoses. During earlier periods (from the mid-1980s to the early-1990s), when breast cancer advocacy was still a nascent grassroots movement, and in later periods, when breast cancer advocacy had become a well-established nationwide cause, there is little evidence that October NBCAM events had an effect on November diagnoses.

Tripping over Boundary-Stones: Reflections on Engaged Scholarship

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes 1. John Freely, Strolling Through Athens: Fourteen Unforgettable Walks Through Europe's Oldest City (London: Tauris Parke Paperbacks, 2004), 111. 2. Dwight Conquergood, “Between Rigor and Relevance: Rethinking Applied Communication,” in Applied Communication in the 21st Century, ed. K. N. Cissna (Mahwah, NJ: Hampton Press, 1995), 80, 85. 3. In addition to Cox, most notably: V. William Balthrop, Carole Blair, Lawrence Grossberg, D. Soyini Madison, Della Pollock, and Julia T. Wood. 4. Reviewer 1, decision letter for submission to Communication and Critical/Cultural Studies, email message to author, June 20, 2009 (emphasis added). The essay since has been revised and accepted for that venue. 5. This trend is broader than the field of rhetoric. Though sometimes forgotten, for example, more contemporary cultural studies scholarship also was born of concern with the empirical world and not the theoretical. Perhaps most concise and well known is Stuart Hall's argument: “Theory is always a detour on the way to something more important.” Stuart Hall, “Old and New Identities, Old and New Ethnicities,” in Culture, Globalization and the World-System: Contemporary Conditions for the Representation of Identity, ed. Anthony D. King (London: Macmillan, 1991), 42. For more on cultural studies’ approach to theory as a detour rather than an end unto itself, see Jennifer Daryl Slack, “The Theory and Method of Articulation in Cultural Studies,” in Stuart Hall: Critical Dialogues in Cultural Studies, ed. David Morley and Kuan-Hsing Chen (London: Routledge, 1996), esp. 113–14. 6. Siva Vaidhyanathan, “The Googlization of Universities,” NEA 2009 Almanac of Higher Education, 2009, p. 66, http://www.nea.org/assets/img/PubAlmanac/ALM_09_06.pdf. I am indebted to Ted Striphas for sharing this timely essay with me and for providing feedback on this essay overall. 7. This paragraph was developed in dialogue with Rachel Hall; she generously has given me permission to borrow some of her thoughts and eloquence. Any errors or awkwardness undoubtedly are mine. 8. Debra Hawhee, Bodily Arts: Rhetoric and Athletics in Ancient Greece (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2004); R. Marshall and A. Bleakley, “The Death of Hector: Pity in Homer, Empathy in Medical Education,” Medical Humanities 35 (2009): 10. 9. Rachel Hall, “‘It Can Happen to You’: Rape Prevention in the Age of Risk Management,” Hypatia 19 (2004): 1–19. 10. Phaedra C. Pezzullo, “Resisting ‘National Breast Cancer Awareness Month’: The Rhetoric of Counterpublics and Their Cultural Performances,” Quarterly Journal of Speech 89 (2003): 345–65; Phaedra C. Pezzullo, Toxic Tourism: Rhetorics of Pollution, Travel, and Environmental Justice (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 2007); The Holland Dutch, “Toxic Tour,” Self-Starter, track 3, compact disc, 2008. The CD is available at The Holland Dutch, “Self-Starter,” cdbaby, http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hollanddutch. Additional informationNotes on contributorsPhaedra C. PezzulloPhaedra C. Pezzullo is Associate Professor in the Department of Communication and Culture at Indiana University

Pretty in Pink: The Susan G. Komen Network and the Branding of the Breast Cancer Cause

The pink ribbon is a ubiquitous fixture on the consumer landscape of contemporary America. Emerging over the last two decades as the symbol for the fight being waged against breast cancer, the color and image now adorn packaging for everything from trash bags to cosmetics, cereal to cleaning products, postage stamps to guacamole. The already pink Energizer bunny now dons a pink ribbon as he keeps going and going to fight breast cancer as well as power the nation‘s electronic devices. The National Football League donned pink during October 2009 in support of October‘s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Muslim women veiled themselves in pink hijabs for the annual Global Pink Hijab Day at the end of October. 1

Overlooking Evidence: Media Ignore Environmental Connections to Breast Cancer

In this article, the author reviews seven years' worth of major news media coverage of the role of environmental pollutants in the etiology of breast cancer. The time frame was 2002-2008 and the outlets studied included prominent newspapers, national news magazines, and network television news programs. Noting that a growing body of private, university, and government environmental health research has implicated a variety of common chemicals and radiation in the disease, the author looked for quantity and quality of coverage of two scientific metastudies during the specified time frame: State of the Evidence: The Connection Between Breast Cancer and the Environment and Environmental Pollutants and Breast Cancer: Epidemiological Studies. She also examined reporting on breast cancer in the month of October ("National Breast Cancer Awareness Month") during the seven years. Despite recent scientific findings, the news media have downplayed and frequently overlooked the evidence. None of the outlets studied covered the State of the Evidence report, and only one covered the Environmental Pollutants report. Breast Cancer Awareness Month similarly saw few articles or newscasts about environmental connections. The author attributes the dearth of coverage to several factors: journalists' lack of awareness about environmental health science, the seemingly higher standards of proof for research findings that implicate chemicals in disease than for other types of scientific research, establishments' lack of acceptance of environmental theories of breast cancer, and economic pressures on news outlets not to alienate their advertisers.

Research in action: mammography utilization following breast cancer awareness campaigns in Lebanon 2002-05

Four consecutive annual surveys of 1200 women each were conducted in Lebanon in connection with the National Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns (2002-05) to measure the prevalence of mammography utilization and the impact of these campaigns, and to highlight regional and demographic differences. The utilization of mammography in the previous 12 months was low and increased only slightly over 4 years (from 11% to 18%). In the 2005 campaign, it was twice as high (25%) in greater Beirut than in mostly rural areas, and among women aged 40-59 years (about 21%) compared with younger (12%) or older (11%) women. In each wave, repeat mammograms were less common than first time screening.

The Power of the Pink Ribbon: Raising Awareness of the Mental Health Implications of Terrorism

The power of the pink ribbon, a symbol of breast cancer awareness, to galvanize women of all ages to pay attention to a dreaded and terrifying female health issue is rooted in a public education phenomenon: a day or period of time that celebrates an anxiety-provoking health issue or disorder to promote awareness, reduce stigma, and foster early identification and help-seeking. The pink ribbon, invented in 1991 by cosmetic heiress and philanthropist, Evelyn H. Lauder and Alexandra Penney (Breast Cancer Resource Center 2004), evolved from the National Breast Awareness Campaign that began in 1985. Between 1989 and 1995, death rates from breast cancer showed their first significant decline, dropping 1.4 percent each year. Between 1995 and 1998, the decrease accelerated to a decline of 3.2 percent annually. The largest decreases occurred in younger women, both African American and Caucasian (National Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2004). To what extent one can ascribe a causal relationship between public education efforts and outcomes is never clear; nevertheless, these statistics are impressive. However, these numbers are not the whole story. Breast cancer awareness has brought women together as a compassionate, supportive community, helping one another through emotional and charitable support. Women—and men—walk for breast cancer, run for breast cancer, and raise millions of dollars for research. Cosmetic industry charitable foundations, whose philanthropy also provides marketing visibility, have embraced “the cause” furthering global awareness, and penetrating difficult-to-reach communities in rural and medically underserved areas. Research has grown as a result of this collective community of survivors, as well as the deceased and those dedicated to their memory. The campaign is now branded, and the proceeds from silver, gold, and gem-studded pink ribbons contribute to research for improved treatments. The pink ribbon is a public education vehicle that lends instant recognition and a posit ive tone to an otherwise anxiety-provoking health issue. Psychiatry 67(2) Summer 2004 137

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month—October 1996

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month—October 1996