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Mountain Views News, Pasadena Edition [Sierra Madre] Saturday, October 15, 2016 | ||||||||||||||||||||
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2016 SECTION B AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH Breast cancer tops all cancers for women across the globe with more than 1.7 million new breast cancer cases detected worldwide in 2012 alone. Women who live in developed countries such as the United States, England and Australia experience a higher rate of breast cancer incidences. In October 1985, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month initiated its inaugural health campaign to support research, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and a cure for the disease. Today, widespread international communities join in setting aside every October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In the United States, an estimated 246,700 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and more than 40,000 die. On average, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes nationwide. The lifetime risk for getting breast cancer is one in eight for U.S. women and one in 1,000 for U.S. men. Breast cancer in men is rare but carries a higher mortality rate primarily because men are less likely to seek medical attention for a breast concern or lump. “In spite of the death rates, almost 3 million breast cancer survivors are currently alive in the United States,” said Renee Concialdi, President of Right at Home of Pasadena. “To beat breast cancer, prevention through a healthy lifestyle and early detection are key. Our in-home care agency works predominantly with seniors, and many older women think they are immune from breast cancer, but they are not. Age increases breast cancer rates.” Concialdi notes that the average age for U.S women to develop breast cancer is 61, and rates are highest in women over age 70. The median age for breast cancer among U.S. men is 68. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Concialdi recommends a review of the following breast cancer risk factors, symptoms and prevention guidelines. Breast Cancer Common Risk Factors Certain known risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing breast cancer, including the following: •Genetic Risk Factors o Age—Two-thirds of breast cancer develops after age 55. o Gender—Women are nearly 100 times more likely than men to develop breast cancer. o Race and ethnicity—White women are at a slightly higher risk than African-American women for developing breast cancer. Breast cancer is more common in African-American women under age 45. o Family history—Having a parent, sister or child diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer increases a person’s own risk for breast cancer (the risk is even higher if the relative was diagnosed before age 50). o Personal breast cancer history—A person with cancer in one breast is at higher risk for future breast cancer in another part of the same breast or in the other breast. o Inherited genes—Roughly 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer is connected to hereditary defects or mutations passed from a parent. The most common of these abnormal genes are BRCA1 and BRCA2. o Menstrual and reproductive history— Starting menstruation before age 12 or going into menopause after age 55 increases breast cancer risk. Never giving birth or having a first child in older age are also risk factors. o Dense breast tissue—Breasts that have more fibrous and glandular tissue than fatty tissue are considered dense breasts. Women with dense breasts have up to twice the risk for breast cancer. •Environmental or Lifestyle Risk Factors o Physical inactivity—A sedentary lifestyle heightens breast cancer risk. o Excess body weight—Being overweight or obese adds to the likelihood of breast cancer. o Alcohol—Drinking two to five drinks daily increases the possibility of breast cancer by 1. times. o Birth control—Oral and injectable birth control have shown to elevate the risk level for breast cancer. Once oral contraceptive pills are stopped, the risk appears to return to normal over time. o Combined hormone replacement therapy—The use of both estrogen and progesterone hormones (cont. on page B3) RANCHO LOS AMIGOS NATIONAL REHABILITATION CENTER AND THE DON KNABE WELLNESS CENTER DEDICATION By Joan Schmidt In the City of Downey, there is an exceptional facility-Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. For the past several years, Rancho has continued to be the only public facility in the top 15-20 rehab hospitals in the United States. Rancho began in 1888 to treat farm workers who could not afford medical care and also previously served as a facility for mental health and polio patients. On four different occasions, Rancho Los Amigos was in danger of closing. Its champion has been LA County Supervisor Don Knabe who is soon to retire. Under his watch, Rancho has gone through great transformation to become a magnificent gem in LA County Healthcare System. How could one man accomplish such a feat? One example is by raising . billion dollars for that purpose! And always voting to keep it open at Board meetings! I learned of this wonderful facility over twenty years ago via Duarte Library and its then-Director Peter Rosenwald who brought several Rancho artists not only to display their work, but give demonstrations like Kenneth Younger and his marbling technique. Over the past twenty years, I have attended a few of their annual receptions and it was wonderful to see familiar artists like Robert Thome, Ann Ruth, Fernando and Ligia Sturla, Barbara Bain and many others. At the last event I attended, there was a second room of art with children’s works-thanks to Supervisor Knabe. He encouraged the youth program and there were paintings of him by the children. It was awesome. They loved him! Knabe learned of Rancho when his dear friend, a Cerritos City Council Member was seriously injured and admitted to the hospital for his recovery. During his daily visits Knabe realized the incredible impact Rancho had on so many lives-there were arts and sports programs, new technologies and cultural excursions. This past October 12th, the Don Knabe Wellness Center was officially dedicated. It will include a state of the art gymnasium and therapy pool. (It is very difficult for special needs people to find pools or gyms that they can utilize.) The Dedication had 600+ attendees and many special speakers. Supervisor Hilda Solis assumed office in 2014 and immediately toured Rancho. She couldn’t say enough about how wonderful Rancho was and praised Knabe for his role in its growth and great new programs. Solis had introduced the measure to name the new center, the Don Knabe Wellness Center. Robert Thome a Rancho patient, artist, teacher, and mentor could not praise Knabe enough. Thome had also spoken at the Supervisors Meeting to keep Rancho open. I want my readers to know what Rancho offers and why Knabe has been its champion all these years: Inpatient and Outpatient Services include: Stroke Rehabilitation, Adult Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury, Orthopedic Disability, Acute Neurology Unit, and Physical and Developmental Disorders. Specialty Services: Center for Applied Rehab Technology, Day Rehab Center. Don Knabe Pediatric Arts Program, Driver Rehab and Training Program, H.O.M.E., Know Barriers: Peer Mentoring and Life Coaching, Language and College Resource Center, Pathokinesiology Lab, Performing Arts of Rancho, Rancho Works, Enterprises, Recreation Therapy, Transportation, Tyler A. Dykes Center for Robotic Rehab, Wellness Center, Wheelchair Sports Program and World- Renowned Seating Clinic. Please consider contributions to Scholarships Funds. For example, a $50 donation = 2 Individual Scholarships which are for a 3 month period. THANK YOU!! Please visit www. ranchofoundation.com for further information. Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com | ||||||||||||||||||||