Second to Nature

Tag: education

  • What is Breast Cancer? Take Time to Educate Yourself

    What is Breast Cancer? Take Time to Educate Yourself

    What is Breast Cancer? Take Time to Educate Yourself

    Second to Nature Reviews Important Breast Health Information

    This month, the focus is on some basic, but important, breast health information. Second to Nature in Roanoke, Virginia, is a regional source for breast cancer education, awareness, and support. To us, every day is an important day to share information that can help save lives affected by it.

    No matter who you are, male or female, young or old, any type of cancer can be a significant health concern. The word “cancer” raises many emotions in the patient who has it, as well as extended family members. Before today’s modern imaging practices and other non-invasive tests, breast cancer was a word whispered with much fear and dread.

    Today, as many women and men know, focus is more about empowerment and survival. It helps to have support from educated family and friends, armed with information about treatments and positive outcomes for breast health.

    Defining Breast Cancer and How It Begins

    The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines breast cancer as a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. Medical experts over the years have documented various kinds. The kind of breast cancer a person may experience depends on which cells in the breast become cancerous.

    As you may know, the human breast consists of three main parts: Lobules, Ducts, and Connective Tissue.

    Lobules – These are the glands that produce milk in the breast.
    Ducts – These structures are tubes that carry milk to the nipple.
    Connective Tissue – These surround structures and hold everything together.

    Connective tissue in the breast may consist of both fibrous and fatty masses. Studies show most breast cancers start in the ducts or lobules. In short, breast cancer can start in different parts of the breast.

    Cancerous cells may sit within the breast as a local mass or tumor. But cancer cells can spread outside the breast through blood and lymph vessels. Once cancer spreads from the breast to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized.

    Looking Within – Views of the Breast Parts Inside

    It can be one thing to read and know these parts of the breast exist, and another one to see them. Of course, these parts of the breast look much different underneath the skin. It can be helpful to have a few different views of how these breast parts appear on the inside.

    Take a look at this anterior or front-view of the breast. Here you can see where all the parts are in a typical breast, along with the surrounding chest muscles.

    This second image is a side or cross-section view of the breast, showing those same breast parts, and how they extend out from the ribcage of the chest.

    Common Kinds of Breast Cancer

    As mentioned above, most commonly start in the ducts or lobules. These are the most regular kinds of invasive breast cancer that tests may discover:

    Invasive ductal carcinoma –

    Invasive ductal carcinoma is where the cancer cells grow outside the ducts and into other parts of the breast tissue. With invasive cancer cells, it can also metastasize or spread to other parts of the body.

    Invasive lobular carcinoma –

    With invasive lobular carcinoma, cancer cells spread from the lobules to the nearby breast tissues. These invasive cancer cells have the ability to spread to other parts of the body.

    Non-invasive Breast Cancer

    In addition to these invasive types, there are several less-common types of breast cancer. Some of these include Paget’s disease and inflammatory breast cancer. Click on the names to link with fact sheets at cancer.gov. These fact sheets contain more information on these less-common types.

    Ductal carcinoma in situ, or DCIS, is a kind of disease that may lead to breast cancer. With DCIS, the cells only appear to sit in the lining of the ducts alone. These cells have not spread to other breast parts or tissues in the breast.

    Education is ‘Second Nature’ at Second to Nature

    Because we know and speak about health matters every day, it may feel like “second nature” to our staff. We appreciate the journey of our clients who undergo mastectomy and other treatments. Meeting clients with knowledge and empathy helps the community at large. Education helps us understand, so we can relate to different situations. Whenever possible, we extend education to others in the Roanoke community.

    Our ongoing commitment to professional development also keeps us up-to-date on the newest fashions, products, and other supports. This makes Second to Nature unique in the Roanoke area and a good partner for clients and their families who are going through the experience of recovery.

    When it comes to your recovery after surgery, rely on Second to Nature’s caring staff to help. Be sure to stop back again over the next few months to read more on educational topics, including a special feature for young women.

    Contact Second to Nature for an appointment at (540) 366-2711 or use our contact form. We are located in the Woodhaven Office Park, at 5450 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, VA. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news and specials. We are dedicated to empowerment and education to answer ‘what is breast cancer’, and so much more.

  • Types of Breast Cancer Surgeries

    Types of Breast Cancer Surgeries

    Types of Breast Cancer Surgeries

    Welcome once again to our blog here at Second to Nature. Over the next few months, we will raise awareness by discussing a few important issues for our clients. These include the different types of breast cancer surgeries available. Future articles will also explore who to tell about your cancer diagnosis, and choosing the type of surgery that is right for you.

    Accordingly, it is our desire to build a culture of understanding through education. To help lay the groundwork, we can start by sharing some enlightenment about breast cancer surgery. Yes, there are a variety of medical procedures available to patients. Let us review some of the most common types.

    Surgical Removal and Treatment of Breast Cancer

    Clients who receive a breast cancer diagnosis may undergo different types of breast cancer surgeries. Medical professionals use surgical procedures to effectively remove cancerous tumors, cells, and more from the chest and surrounding areas. The doctor may also combine a surgical procedure with another treatment, such as radiation therapy.

    It is enlightening to have a general awareness of the types of breast cancer surgeries that clients may face. Each patient’s experience is unique to the type of breast cancer removal or treatment the doctor recommends. Medical professionals provide their patients with full details specific to the type of diagnosis, procedure, and prognosis.

    Common Breast Cancer Surgeries

    Next, it is important to understand that any type of surgery comes with a certain amount of risk. Doctors and others on the care team will share what patients and their loved ones may expect with the most common types of breast cancer surgeries they perform. Active education and involvement helps to provide more positive outcomes.

    Breast cancer surgeries include:

    Lumpectomy: This procedure removes a tumor from the breast. A lumpectomy differs from a mastectomy, which removes the entire breast. Women who undergo a lumpectomy are usually recommended to receive radiation following surgery to help prevent recurrence. Some women are candidates for intraoperative radiation therapy. This typically limits the amount of radiation treatments needed after surgery. Commonly referred to as breast conservation therapy, the surgeon will design a lumpectomy coupled with radiation therapy to allow a woman to keep her breast.

    Mastectomy: This is the surgical removal of all the breast tissue. If breast conservation therapy is not a viable option, the doctor may recommend mastectomy. Women who have cancer in multiple areas of the breast and/or large tumors relative to the size of the breast are typically recommended to undergo a mastectomy. The cancer specialist may also recommend mastectomy for women with certain genetic mutations (BRCA1 or BRCA2). In many instances, the surgeon will spare much of the breast skin and even the nipple to improve the outcome of reconstruction.

    Several Different Types of Mastectomy

    For patients undergoing mastectomy, there are several different types of mastectomy:

    • Nipple-sparing mastectomy, which includes removal of the breast tissue only.
    • Skin-sparing mastectomy, which removes the breast tissue along with the nipple and areola.
    • Total (simple) mastectomy, which is a removal of the breast tissue and skin.
    • Modified radical mastectomy, which removes the whole breast, along with the lymph nodes under the arm.

    Factors such as breast size, breast shape, type of cancer, and the location of cancer in the breast and/or lymph nodes will determine which type of mastectomy the surgeon will perform. Your breast surgeon will guide you through the decision-making process. They will review options and outcomes for the type of mastectomy procedure appropriate for you. For more information, refer to the American Cancer Society website.

    Education Leads to Understanding and Support

    We hope that in sharing this important information that it will help educate readers about what they or their loved ones may experience. Remember that each person’s medical journey is a personal matter between them and their healthcare provider. As caring members of the community, we can all share in raising awareness through education.

    Like the staff at Second to Nature, many of us can learn a little more every day about the challenges associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. Sharing this type of education better equips us to offer much in the way of support. Embracing this added empathy means so much to patients who must undergo breast cancer surgery.

    Contact Second to Nature for After Breast Cancer Fashions

    After breast cancer surgery, contact Second to Nature for the post-surgery fashions you need to help with your recovery. We treat each breast cancer patient who comes to Second to Nature as people first, who happen to have the experience of a breast cancer diagnosis. Operating as we do on a person-first basis allows us the freedom and ability to customize the shopping experience for each client.

    Second to Nature is conveniently located in the Woodhaven Office Park, at 5450 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, VA. Call Second to Nature for an appointment at (540) 366-2711 or use our contact form. Follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with the latest news and specials.