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[**The Changing Face of Breast
Cancer**](http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/0,28757,1666089,00.html)

Once a disease of the Western world, breast cancer is now a global
concern

And the Breast Self-Exam Dilemma

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) states that "clinicians
who advise women to perform breast self-exam (BSE) or who perform
clinical breast exam to screen for breast cancer should understand that
there is currently insufficient evidence to determine whether these
practices affect breast cancer mortality, and that they are likely to
increase the incidence of clinical assessments and biopsies."

Unnecessary harm caused by diagnostic work-ups of a breast lump may
include scars, breast deformities, and emotional wounds. Yet, it would
be wrong to both conclude that women need not be aware of any breast
changes and to do nothing about their reporting. The most reasonable
approach for deciding to do BSE is to dialogue with a health care
provider about the USPSTF "insufficient evidence" indeterminate status.
Women who want to do a BSE should do it as long as they realize the
limitations and the potential for extra biopsies and other harms.
Likewise women who don't want to do BSE shouldn't feel guilty.

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**Smoking Cessation --** **Degrees of Influence**

Our influence over many behaviors may be far-reaching. In this [mega
study](http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/358/21/2249 ) over the
course of 30 years that was recently reported in the *New England
Journal of Medicine,* social and personal relationships are found to
strongly influence the collective dynamics of smoking. Here are some
findings:

Since 1971 the prevalence of smoking in the U.S. has declined from 45%
to 21% of the population. The risk of being a smoker was 61% higher if a
person had a first degree relationship with the smoker (e.g. a spouse).
Conversely the chances of quitting smoking were 67% if a person's spouse
quit; 36% if a friend quit; 34% if a co-worker (from a small firm) quit;
25% if a sibling quit. "People are connected and so too is their health
connected."

Chris Gage, MS ARNP, FSHP stated this in his health unit article:
"Become aware of how the opinions and behaviors of others affect you and
influence your behaviors for better or worse. The flip side is to be
aware that your opinions and behaviors can impact others in your social
network." Lead by example.

**Healthy Habits and Resources:**

September is **Ovarian Cancer** Awareness Month. Early cancers of the
ovaries often present with vague symptoms that may include:

-   swelling of the stomach (abdomen) or bloating  

-   pelvic pressure or stomach pain 

-   trouble eating or feeling full quickly 

-   having to urinate often or feeling like you have to \"go\" right
    away

Even though most of these symptoms can also be caused by other, less
serious, problems, see your health care provider if these symptoms are
both relatively new and persistent. (So the transient bloating that
often accompanies menstrual periods would not qualify, nor would a
lifelong history of indigestion.)

The National Ovarian Cancer Coalition at
[http://www.ovarian.org](http://www.ovarian.org/) provides additional
information about ovarian cancer.

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One-third of **children** in the U.S. are **overweight**. Learn about
everything from changing lifestyles to how obesity damages organ systems
at this comprehensive
[site](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/health/childhoodobesity/)
presented by the *Washington Post.*

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height="0.8013888888888889in"}

American on the Move's September Campaign

Welcome to guidance to lifestyle changes through this national movement
[website](http://aom.americaonthemove.org/site/c.krLXJ3PJKuG/b.1524889/k.BFFA/Home.htm)

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The President's council on Physical Fitness has launched a new online
**Adult Fitness Test**. Many baby boomers remember taking the youth
fitness test in elementary school and now have a chance to see how they
score as adults! The activities featured on the adult fitness test
provide an estimate of your level of aerobic fitness, muscular strength
and endurance, flexibility, and body composition. The results of each
test provide a measure from which you can track your progress in each
area as you become more physically active. If you're interested in
testing your fitness level, please visit this
[link](http://www.adultfitnesstest.org/) for the test.

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Another note about **cigarette smoking** -- the benefits of quitting are
outlined in this
[article](http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=89299)

The risks for smoking-related diseases for former smokers eventually
fall to the levels of never-smokers. The sooner one quits the better, as
it may take the lungs decades to recover from the ravages of smoking.