Katreena Arroyo

Breast Cancer: Devoting our Efforts to Save the Innocent

1185 words
There are many diseases in this world that have affected millions of people by taking
their lives, or by altering their lives forever. Breast cancer is a disease that has affected copious
amounts of women and yet, the worlds most brilliant doctors and scientists have not been able to
find a cure. You might think, Why should I care about this disease if I dont have a chance of
getting it, or there is no sign of breast cancer in my family history. However, there are many
aspects about this horrible chronic disease that many do not know about. Breast cancer matters in
public health in todays world because of who it affects, the toll and consequences that it has on a
person, and because of what it can turn into, which is why we as the people of the public and the
State Health Department need to take the proper measures to deal with this disease. Breast
Cancer is a public health issue that we should care about because of the severe affects that it has
on millions of people.
Breast Cancer is a horrible disease that has effected millions of people throughout history.
There are many factors that contribute to those who get breast cancer such as gender, age, race,
and socioeconomic status. Breast Cancer has mostly affected women since it was discovered (1).
Although the rate of breast cancer is much higher in women, it is still possible for a man to
develop breast cancer as well (1). It has been commonly speculated that because on has no
family history of breast cancer, that they have no chance of developing this disease, thus having
no desire to care about his disease. However, this common speculation is false. Research has
proven that among those who have developed this chronic disease, approximately 85% of those
individuals had no family history of breast cancer (2). This is due to the fact that because of the
aging process, genes begin to mutate and cancer cells begin to form (2). Age is a huge defining

factor in those that are affected by breast cancer. This chronic disease has been known to affect
people of all ages, but there is a certain age period where it is known to be more common. Breast
Cancer is most commonly known to affect middle aged women among the years of 55 to 59 (1).
Not only is age and gender a contributing factor of being affected by breast cancer, but race does
as well. There has been research that shows that non-Hispanic whites have a higher rate of breast
cancer than other races (3). However, there are women of all races who have been affected by
this awful disease (3). Another factor that contributes to the type of people this disease effects is
socioeconomic status. Studies have shown that areas with higher economic status such as the
Unites States, Canada and Europe have a higher portion of women who have been affected by
breast cancer (3). The women that this disease effects could be your aunt, cousin, sister, daughter,
or even your mother. Women that we are close to and hold near to our hearts are at risk of getting
this disease. Wouldnt you want to do everything in your power to help fight this horrid disease
from ever having to affect them?
Not only is it important to help do everything in our power to help fight this disease
because of who it affects, but it is also important to know the toll that this disease has on those it
affects. These people do not just include those who have been infected with breast cancer, but
their families as well. When one is diagnosed with breast cancer, there are a spectrum of medical
test and treatments that they must undergo. One of these treatments is chemotherapy which is a
treatment where chemical substances are inserted into the body to kill the cancerous cells that are
causing the disease (4). This therapy can take a great deal from the individual who is affected.
One individual who can attest to the fact that this can take a great deal from one physically and
emotionally is Bonnie Bauer. Bonnie is a middle aged woman who has been afflicted with breast
cancer and has fought a good battle. This disease took a physical toll on Bonnies body which

even led to her losing her hair. She would wear a scarf to cover part of the effects that this cancer
left her with. I missed work on the days I had chemotherapy. My family was very helpful and I
was able to keep working throughout the process. However, after I was diagnosed, one of my
daughters developed insomnia, one gained weight, and my husband became depressed,
expressed Bonnie. Not only did this disease take a physical and emotional toll on her, but it also
took a great toll on her family. Bonnie commented on the toll that it had on her family saying, I
hated that my affliction had such far reaching affects with my beloved family. You may not
thing this disease may affect you but it can, and if it does it not only affects you, but it affects
your family too. There are so many devastating consequences that come with having breast
cancer. The State Health Department should be devoting money, time and energy into preventing,
controlling and even curing this atrocious disease in order to spare innocent people from having
to endure the pain and affliction that Bonnie and her family had to withstand.
The toll that breast cancer can have on a person is devastating, but worrying about the
sole effects of this disease is not the only thing that needs to be worried about. Breast cancer is a
malignant tumor in which a collection of cancer cells take over the tissues around the tumor and
begin to spread that cancerous cells (5). If the proper precautions are not taken to help stop breast
cancer than the affects could be even more serious. If this chronic disease goes unnoticed or
untreated, the cancerous cells can spread until the cancer reaches the underarm lymph nodes.
This disease can spread to other parts of the body, causing more alarm for concern about this the
damage that this disease can do.
We must dedicate out time and care about this public health issue in order to prevent this
horrible disease. The Public Health Department must dedicate its time, money and efforts in
preventing and controlling this disease in order to spare innocent people from having to endure

this life altering disease. This disease effects many, and can virtually effect any woman even
though they may not have any prior family history of the disease. Breast Cancer takes a
tremendous toll on the body and soul of those who are diagnosed with breast cancer and their
families. It can turn into more than just breast cancer if we do not put our efforts into fighting it.
We need to restore faith in humanity and care about this public health issue that is affecting
millions.

References:
1. GBD Data Visualizations. http://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-cause-patterns/ . Date
Accessed January 15, 2015.
2. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics
3. Breast Cancer. Org. April 1, 2014.
http://www.breastcancer.org/risk/factors/race_ethnicity . Accessed January 14, 2014
4. Chemotherapy for breast cancer. American Cancer Society. 12/31/2014.
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-treatingchemotherapy . Accessed 1/22/2014
5. Stephan, Pam. What is Breast Cancer: Definition, Types of Breast Cancer, Common
Symptoms. December 2014.
http://breastcancer.about.com/od/definition/a/bc_definition.htm. Accessed January 13,
2015.