The following is an unedited news release from Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas.
She was only 36 when she felt something in her breast. "It was hard and slightly painful, like a bruise," recalled Jennifer Arzola, mother of four and an employee of Parkland Health & Hospital System. "My first thought was, 'could this be breast cancer?' but then I thought, 'no way, breast cancer doesn't run in my family.' Then it dawned on me - my mother-in-law was the only person in her family to have breast cancer. I knew I had to get it checked out."
Many women, like Arzola, believe they are too young to get breast cancer, or are immune to the disease because they have no family history. Those are misconceptions that Arzola wants to help correct so other women will get the life-saving care they need before it's too late. "I know there's something I'm supposed to do with my experience and I think it's to reach out and educate others about the disease."
Arzola volunteered to be on the planning committee of Parkland's annual "Come Together for the Cure" breast cancer awareness event scheduled for 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 25 at Light of the World Church of Christ, 7408 S. Hampton Road, Dallas, 75232. As part of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the free event open to the public and co-hosted by Parkland and Susan G. Komen Dallas County aims to arm women with facts about breast cancer, dispel myths and provide potentially life-saving screening mammograms.
Workshops on five breast cancer topics and free mammogram screenings begin at 8 a.m. The luncheon program hosted by KRNB radio personality Lynne Haze begins at noon and will feature a panel discussion by breast cancer survivor Dr. Sheron C. Patterson, Dallas pastor, author and breast cancer awareness advocate; survivor Rev. Michael Enette; Rachel Woolridge, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center; Aretha L. Fisher, PhD, Parkland clinical psychologist; and Valorie Harvey, Director of Cancer Services at Parkland. Gifts, raffle prizes and lunch are complimentary.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), not counting some kinds of skin cancer, breast cancer in the U.S. is the most common cancer in women, regardless of race or ethnicity. It is the most common cause of death from cancer among Hispanic women and the second most common cause of death from cancer among Caucasian, African-American, Asian/Pacific and American Indian/Alaska Native women. In 2011, the most recent year that data is available, nearly a quarter of a million women and more than 2,000 men were diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. More than 40,000 women and 440 men died from the disease in America that year.
Phil Evans, MD, Parkland's Interim Medical Director, Breast Imaging and Radiology, stated that most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 or older, but about 11 percent of new breast cancers in the U.S. are found in women under age 45. "At Parkland, we have consistently recommended that women of average risk for breast cancer start getting mammograms at age 40 and continue annually thereafter. And it's important for women of all ages to know how to do a monthly breast self-examination and to see a physician if they notice any change in their breasts," he said.
Arzola found the lump in her breast in July 2012 and had a bilateral mastectomy soon after, followed by reconstructive breast surgery in January 2013. Fortunately, she required no chemotherapy or radiation treatment and is doing well. But despite a loving support group led by her husband, children, mother, church friends and an "amazing group of co-workers at Parkland," Arzola said the experience was life-altering.
"It may sound very strange, but now I'm glad that I got breast cancer because it opened my eyes to a lot of things more important in life than most of us realize. I didn't have any idea how many people have been touched by breast cancer. I saw another side of people that I wouldn't have seen if I hadn't gone through this," she said.
With so much to live for, Arzola maintained a positive attitude and was determined to get well. "I still wonder why I got breast cancer," she said, "but no one knows. I hope someday we can find that answer."
Meantime, Arzola and health care providers at Parkland hope that more women will attend events like "Come Together for the Cure" to learn how to protect themselves from the disease and get a screening mammogram, because breast cancer can be cured if detected early.
"There are a lot of myths and fears about breast cancer," Dr. Evans said. "Many women believe that if they don't have a family history of breast cancer, they don't need to be screened, but in fact about 80 percent of breast cancers occur in women with no family history, so screening is very important for all women. Many women also think that if they find a lump, it must be cancerous, but that is not the case. The vast majority of lumps turn out to be benign, but they must be evaluated by their medical provider either through imaging or biopsy to determine if they are malignant or not. It's extremely important for women to have an annual mammogram after age 40 and talk to their doctor about any changes in breast tissue, regardless of their age. Early detection of breast cancer saves lives."
To register for the free breast cancer luncheon and workshops on Oct. 25, please contact Vickie Henry at 214-266-4398 or Vickie.Henry@phhs.org. To register for a free mammogram at the event, call 214-266-3499.
Parkland provides screening mammograms, breast cancer education, and case management services to medically underserved women in Dallas County. Parkland's mobile mammography unit visits its Community Oriented Primary Care health centers regularly. For more information on the mobile mammography unit screening schedule, visit www.parklandhospital.com/mobile_mammography or call 214.266.3300. To learn more about Parkland's Comprehensive Breast Center, visit www.parklandhospital.com/breast_center
