Child Has Breast Cancer

A 10 year old California chld is a rare victim of breast cancer.  Hannah Powell-Auslam is a fifth grader and is being treated for breast cancer.

In late March, Hannah complained of itching so her mother took her into the bathroom to check for problems. She felt the growth.

Hannah had surgery to remove part of the mass in early April. Not all the tumor was removed because it had advanced into breast tissue that would not grow normally in adulthood if it was damaged. The removed portion was sent for tests. 

Carrie Auslam, Hannah’s mother said, ” They told me it was not breast cancer because breast cancer does not happen to children”. The tests came back in mid-April with a Stage 11A  Invasive Ductal Carcinoma, an adult form of breast cancer.  

When her parents broke the news to Hannah, she said, “I didn’t really know what cancer is. I just started crying and couldn’t stop.”

Hannah will probably have a mastectomy of her left breast. She will also likely face chemotherapy but her prognosis is good. Her cancer, characterized by smaller tumors found in the breast and minimal spread of the disease to the rest of the body. is very treatable.

Carrie Auslam said she hopes Hannah’s story will help kids communicate with parents about changes to their bodies that might indicate a problem. “Hannah knew about that lump but she thought it was part of growing up”, Auslam said.

Hannah had to leave the softball season early but her team, the Silver and Black Attack, are wearing pink hair ties and decals with her name and “No.11″ as a tribute to her for the rest of the season. Another team will wear pink uniforms for the rest of the season in her honor.

The 10 year old child says she wants to make her cancer a positive experience and is writing a book. “God chose me because He knows I’m a strong girl and I can get through it.

I pray you do Hannah.

Cancer, Red Meat, and Heart Disease – New Study

A recently published, new study supported by the National Cancer Institute show men and women who eat higher amounts of red meat and processed meat have a higher risk of dying from cancer, heart disease and other causes compared to those who eat less.

More than 500,000 people participated in the study which began in 1995.

The people who ate the most red meat along with the most processed meat showed a higher risk of dying during the study period as well as a higher risk of dying from cancer and heart disease compared to those who ate the least.

Pork was included in the red meat category along with beef, bacon, ham, hamburg, hot dogs, liver, pork sausage, steak and meats in foods such as pizza and lasagna.

White meat included turkey, fish, chicken, chicken mixtures and other meats.

The processed meats were both red or white meat that had been cured, dried or smoked. This includes bacon, cold cuts, etc.

There is no known reason why red meat and processed meat tend to increase risks of heart disease, cancer and other deaths. One theory is the meats are a source of carcinogens formed during cooking. Another explains the iron in the red meat may increase oxidative cell damage, leading to health problems. Lastly, the saturated fat found in meat has been linked with breast and colorectal cancer.

The American Institute for Cancer recommends eating no more than 18 ounces of cooked red meat a week. Research suggests an increase in cancer risk with any amount of processed meat so the Institute recommends avoiding it.

Goodbye pepperoni, hot dogs and bologna.

From now on I’m ordering my meat on the side.