Slide 1:
Speaker 1: Hello fellow KAS highschoolers. We’re _________ and ________ from Z club.
Slide 2:
Speaker 2: Before we start, let’s talk: why are we doing this today? Why does it matter?
Speaker 1: In Taiwan, there are still a lot of stigma surrounding breast cancer. For example, in August, there was a case where the a 70-year-old patient refused to go to the doctor. If it wasn’t for her daughter’s persistence, she would not have been able to get treated.
Speaker 2: This case is not unique: this is a prevalent issue across Taiwan. A lot of patients fear stigmatization and often passed the optimal treatment period.
(Slide 3: section header)
Speaker 1: Last week, we asked every one of you to vote for 6 statements during BIG time, and here are the results. (next slide)
Slide 4: show results and talk
Speaker 2: Overall, we are super impressed by the amount of knowledge KAS students have in terms of breast cancer. The majority of you got the first, third, and fifth statement correct! Good job.
Speaker 1: Among the 6 statements we asked, most of the people have misconceptions about the second and fifth question.
Speaker 2: The second statement “deodorants can cause breast cancer” is not true.
Speaker 1: On the other hand, the fifth statement “there is essentially no way to eliminate breast cancer” is true.
Speaker 2: Wondering why? Let’s find out!
(Slide 5: section header)
Slide 6: How is breast cancer formed?
Speaker 1: First of all, let us take a look at how breast cancer is formed. According to our voting box activity from last week, many of you know that breast cancer is possible for both men and women. True. This is because everyone has breast cells in your breast. Breast cancers occur when breast cells begin to grow abnormally and eventually turn into a lump or a mass.
Speaker 2: More severely, these cancer cells may metastasize to other parts of your body as well, for example, lymph nodes.
Speaker 1: Don’t worry, this is not bio class! That’s all we are going to talk about the formation of breast cancer.
Slide 7: risk groups
Speaker 2: After you have learned about the formation of breast cancer, you should have a general sense that virtually everyone is at risk of getting it.
Speaker 1: Last week, most of you answered correctly: people who do not have a family history of breast cancer can still get it. Who are other risk groups?
Speaker 2: In addition to people who have a family history, there are other risk factors that are unchangeable. This includes increased age, genetic mutations to genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, prolonged exposure to hormones (which means your period came before age 12 or your menopause came after age 55), dense breasts.
Speaker 1: Recall that most of you also answered the statement that “breast cancer cannot recur” correctly. Other unalterable factors include personal history of breast cancer or other breast diseases and previous exposure to radiation therapy.
Speaker 2: Being a woman also increases the risk since their breast cells constantly develop due to hormonal activity.
Speaker 1: Besides the factors that are out of your control, there are other self-induced factors that can put you at higher risk.
Speaker 2: These factors include not being physically active, being overweight or obese after menopause, taking hormones (such as birth control), never having a full-term pregnancy, or having a full-term pregnancy only after age 30.
Speaker 1: Just to add in a bit of scientific knowledge here: pregnancy reduces the total number of menstrual cycles and thus the amount of hormones you are exposed to. That’s why never being pregnant can put you at a higher risk.
Speaker 2: Also, note that deodorants and antiperspirants are not on the list! They don’t increase your risk of getting breast cancer.
(Slide 8: section header)
Slide 9: How can I reduce the risk?
Speaker 1: Although there are high risk factors that are out of your control, you can still do your own part in reducing the risks.
Speaker 2: These rules are pretty simple! Don’t be an alcoholic, don’t smoke, control your weight, be physically active, breast-feed, limit hormonal consumption and therapy, and avoid radiation exposure.
Speaker 1: To sum it up, stay healthy! However, recall that most of you voted “no” for the statement “there is essentially no way to eliminate breast cancer.”
Speaker 2: This statement is actually true: there isn’t a way for people to completely eliminate their chance of getting breast cancer, but the least we can do is reduce the risks.
(Side 10: section header)
Slide 11: symptoms
Speaker 1: So, how do I know if I might have breast cancer?
Speaker 2: Usually, there will be some detectable physical changes to your breasts, such as breast pain, red pitted skin, and other changes in appearances listed here.
Speaker 1: However, it is still important to learn how to self-examine!
Slide 12: self-examination
Speaker 2: Well, we believe that most of you begin to understand the danger and threats of getting breast cancer. Now, we want you to learn about how to check your breast by informing you of several common signs before it’s too late!
Speaker 1: These signs include a breast lump, change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast, changes to the skin over the breast, a newly inverted nipple, redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, etc.
Speaker 2: We don’t encourage you to check it now, but we do want you to take a few minutes at home to observe your breasts. To give you all a better understanding, we will now show you a video of how to check your breasts.
*play the video*
Speaker 1: Okay, let’s hope this video actually helps you all. Note that, this is your health and life, no one can protect it better than you do!
Slide 13: Professional diagnosis
Speaker 2: However, keep in mind that self-examination is never a substitute for mammogram.
(Slide 14: section header)
Slide 15: health concerns
Speaker 1: So, what if I actually get breast cancer?
Speaker 2: If you have taken biology before, you should have a general idea that breast cancer, like other types of cancer, can spread throughout your body such as your bone and liver.
Speaker 1: Here, we inserted a diagram to show you how breast cancer can affect different parts of your body.
Speaker 2: As you can see, the side effects on your breast include nipple retraction, cracked breast tissue, breast pain, nipple discharge. Other effects include swelling, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, and skin irritation.
(Slide 16: section header)
Slide 17: treatment
Speaker 1: Next, let’s briefly go over how to treat breast cancer! The main objectives are to get rid of cancer cells and to prevent the disease to recur.
Speaker 2: The main types include radiation therapy to kill cancer cells, lumpectomy to remove the tumor, and mastectomy to remove the entire breast.
Speaker 1: With that said, breast cancer can be treated, but it’s not guaranteed that the risks are 100% eliminated.
(Slide 18: section header)
Speaker 2: Before we move on, anyone who wants to take a guess at how many people died of breast cancer per year? *pick on someone*
Slide 19: worldwide stats
Speaker 1: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), up to six-hundred twenty-seven hundred patients died of breast cancer back in 2018.
Speaker 2: How about Taiwan? Is breast cancer a serious issue?
Slide 20: Taiwan stats
Speaker 1: Taiwan does a relatively good job here, but breast cancer still remains an issue. It is the first most common cancer for female and third most fatal cancer.
Speaker 2: With a death rate of 22%, around 2000 female die due to breast cancer every year.
Speaker 1: Which means that there are around 31 new cases and 6 new deaths per day caused by breast cancer.
(Slide 21: section header)
Slide 22: How should we communicate/encounter/approach with people with breast cancer?
Speaker 2: Last but not least, upon learning the different aspects of breast cancer, we also want you to be supportive toward people with breast cancers. And here are some things you can do.
Speaker 1: First, listen to their needs. Have face-to-face communication with the patients, listen to their decisions when they are making choices. According to one of Indian J Palliat Care’s studies of the patients with Breast Cancer, it is suggested that through developing therapeutic communication with the patients has an integral advantage toward the patient’s treatment.
Speaker 2: Second, being positive and soothing. As a help to the patient, it is important for ourselves to have positive motivation.
Speaker 1: Third, understand their medical treatments, and make sure to take notes from the doctor's appointment. This is for us as helpers to know what we can help the patients when they are going through the medical treatments, this includes understanding what kind of treatments they might receive and identifying the pros and cons of the treatment. Remember, it is important to also tell them the cons of the medical treatments instead of only telling them the good sides.
Speaker 2: Last, sharing knowledge. Encourage patients to share their experiences with other patients with breast cancer. This helps them understand themself better and can possibly receive suggestions from other patients too.
Speaker 1: Going through medical treatments for breast cancer is never easy, many patients back off when they hear about the appearance of their body might end after the medical treatments. Hence, it is essential for us to play a role as helpers and communicators to provide them support and enlighten them when they are down and struggling with doctor’s appointments.
Slide 23:
Speaker 2: Fortunately, Taiwan is a country that implements great preventative measures to fight breast cancer.
Speaker 1: The Health Promotion Administration provides a free mammography screening every two years for women from ages 45-69 and women from ages 40-44 with a family history.
Slide 24:
Speaker 2: Now that you are educated and aware, we hope you all truly understand the impact of breast cancer might have on you, and the people around you.
Speaker 1: October 18th is KAS annual Breast Cancer Awareness day. Since it is a Sunday this year, we would like to ask all of you to show your moral support by wearing pink and put on pink ribbon on next Friday, October 16th.
Speaker 2: We will be providing pink ribbons in the Lobby on that day, so make sure to dress in pink and grab one to express your moral support! Stay informed and let’s fight the stigma together!
Speaker 1, Speaker 2: Thank you!