Breast Cancer

by Kara Sewell (WINFIELD, Kan.) In Winfield near Main Street sits a bucket of bras. But Barbara Hrencher has good reason for mentioning her unmentionables.  Barbara's brassiere collection is really a symbol. In October, she'll string them across the Arkansas River to promote breast cancer awareness. Calling it Bras for a Cause. She'll take any kind of bra, sports bras, regular bras, even t-shirts since breast cancer affects men also. She needs 600. So, every Saturday in September she's taking donations.

The diagnosis of breast cancer can change a woman's life, and the lives of those close to her. These changes can be hard to handle. It is common for the woman and her family and friends to have many different and sometimes confusing emotions. At times, patients and their loved ones may be frightened, angry, or depressed. These are normal reactions when people face a serious health problem. Many people find it helps to share their thoughts and feelings with loved ones.

Doctors can seldom explain why one person gets breast cancer and another doesn't. It is clear, however, that breast cancer is not caused by bumping, bruising, or touching the breast. And this disease is not contagious; no one can "catch" breast cancer from another person. Scientists are trying to learn more about factors that increase the risk of developing this disease. For example, research is in progress to determine whether the risk of breast cancer is affected by environmental factors.