Breast Cancer Awareness Month
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.
Understanding Breast Cancer:
Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade healthy cells in the body. Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body.
Cancer begins in the cells which are the basic building blocks that make up tissue. Tissue is found in the breast and other parts of the body. Sometimes, the process of cell growth goes wrong and new cells form when the body doesn’t need them and old or damaged cells do not die as they should. When this occurs, a build up of cells often forms a mass of tissue called a lump, growth, or tumor.
Breast cancer occurs when malignant tumors develop in the breast. These cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumor and entering blood vessels or lymph vessels, which branch into tissues throughout the body. When cancer cells travel to other parts of the body and begin damaging other tissues and organs, the process is called metastasis.
Risk Factors:
Genetic: Gender, Age, Race, Family History and Genetic Factors, Personal Health History, Menstrual and Reproductive History, Certain Genome Changes, Dense Breast Tissue.
Environmental and Lifestyle: Lack of Physical Activity, Poor Diet, Being Overweight or Obese, Drinking Alcohol, Radiation to the Chest, Combined Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
Resources:
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) offers a free online breast cancer risk assessment tool. This tool uses a woman’s personal and family medical history to calculate her risk of developing invasive breast cancer. Click here to use NCI’s
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool: Online Calculator*.
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Please note that this assessment tool is not able to take into account every detail of a woman’s medical history, such as a previous history of breast cancer or a BRCA gene mutation. It also cannot actually predict whether a person will or will not get breast cancer. Always talk with your doctor about your risk of developing breast cancer or any new or worsening symptoms you may be experiencing.
Below is health guide with details on risk factors and developing healthy habits to lower the risk of breast cancer.
Tribal Wellness Services:
Diabetes Prevention & Management
In an effort to combat the growing epidemic of diabetes in American Indian and Alaska Native communities, the Samish Indian Nation Diabetes Program provides a variety of services to help delay or prevent a diabetes diagnosis while also reducing the risk of complications. These services are designed to educate tribal citizens on the risk factors of diabetes while encouraging prevention and management, physical fitness, nutrition, foot care, and vision care.
Eligibility Requirements:
You must be an enrolled Samish tribal citizen.
You must reside in our 12-County Service Area (Clallam, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, or Whatcom County)
Services We Currently Offer:
Home Chef Gift Card: Home Chef is a meal kit service that works on a recurring weekly subscription model. You'll receive orders with fresh ingredients and recipe cards to make restaurant-style meals designed by chefs in the comfort of your own home. The idea is to save you time finding new recipes, meal planning and portioning.
Monthly Diabetes Educational Information: Informational flyers regarding how you can prevent and manage your diabetes mailed each month.