Are you seeing a lot of pink lately? You probably are, since October is internationally
recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Just as purple is associated with
Alzheimer’s disease, pink denotes breast cancer awareness.
Both men and women can develop these illnesses, though more women are diagnosed with
both breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease than men. It makes sense that women account
for more cases of breast cancer, but the fact that more women are diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s disease remains a mystery — though not wholly.
For one thing, women live longer than men, so there’s that. But beyond aging, researchers
haven’t definitively concluded why nearly two-thirds of those who have Alzheimer’s are
women. Over 7 million people in the United States have the condition, according to the
Alzheimer’s Association, and more than 4 million of those are women, a staggering number.
According to the American Cancer Society, the median age for women who develop breast
cancer is 62, while the Alzheimer’s Association reports that “women in their 60s are about
twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s during the rest of their lives as they are to develop
breast cancer.” As someone who has experience with both conditions, I can tell you, women
don’t want to have either. Nor do we wish them on the men we love.
Personal experience
My experience with Alzheimer’s began when my mother was diagnosed and my sister, Ruth,
and I became her primary caregivers. Neither of us had breast cancer at that time, but my
sister was diagnosed a few months before our mother passed away.
Aside from Alzheimer’s, our mother was primarily healthy, but we didn’t tell her about Ruth’s
diagnosis. After Mom’s death, we were sad, of course. But we were then able to concentrate
on Ruth’s health and her getting well.
Then, five years later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Right now, Ruth and I are both
grateful to be cancer-free.
We didn’t battle cancer and take care of our mother simultaneously, which would’ve been
beyond frightening; in fact, I can’t imagine how it’d be possible. But undoubtedly, given the
statistics, some caregivers do deal with both. Additionally, caregivers are sometimes so busy
providing care that they ignore warning signs, such as breast lumps, or they skip
mammograms and yearly health examinations. They either don’t make time or they fear a
diagnosis. If they’re sick, after all, who will care for their loved one?
As with Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, there’s no cure for metastatic
breast cancer. But unlike Alzheimer’s, medical science can stop breast cancer before it
spreads. Women like my sister and me are cancer-free because of that, and more
significantly, by God’s grace.
Steps for caregivers
Some health agencies provide free mammograms during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
to encourage women to get one. See a health professional for a physical exam, including the
breasts, at least once a year, and learn to perform self-exams of the breasts while you’re in
the shower. Don’t ignore a lump, and if you discover one, please don’t put off going to the
doctor. If you care for a mother, daughter, or female friend, they too need to have breast
examinations.
Caregiving is not an excuse for ignoring your health. While taking time away from such
duties are challenging; it’s imperative.
“Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death for women,” the American
Cancer Society notes, and predictions for 2025 indicate that 42,170 women will die from the
disease. But the survival rate following breast cancer treatment is also significant. If caught
in the early stages, the five-year survival rate is 99%.
Yes, wear pink clothing, jewelry, and pins/ribbons to support breast cancer awareness, but don’t stop there. Caregivers can’t risk going undiagnosed for any cancer, including breast cancer.
Note: This article was originally published in Treading Dark Waters, an Alzheimer’s News and BioNews Services, Inc., publication. The statistics have been updated, and full disclosure: the last paragraph contains Amazon affiliate product links, which did not appear in the original article. Identical affiliate links are below.
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