[00:00:10] Speaker A: Happy Sunday. You are listening to Fit to be tied with Sheena and Whitney on 90.7, the capstone.
[00:00:15] Speaker B: Hello, Tuscaloosa.
[00:00:17] Speaker A: It's finally cool.
[00:00:18] Speaker B: I'm so glad. Are you sick?
[00:00:20] Speaker A: I am.
I don't know what happened. And I have been checked with our staff at the student health center. Earlier in the week. I said, okay, I. I need you to give me a strep test. I need you to check me for the flu or else my husband is not letting me come home.
And he's like, you have to stay away from the baby. But now it's just some lovely post nasal dryness.
[00:00:43] Speaker B: It kind of sounds like. Well, I had a little bit of that. And I think it was just from the weather changing. And I'm so grateful. It's so nice outside.
[00:00:50] Speaker A: I know. It feels like October now.
[00:00:52] Speaker B: Yeah. I can't believe we're in October. I can't believe. I think when October first happened, it was almost like just a daze that day because I couldn't even remember September. I don't know if that's a bad thing or a good thing.
[00:01:07] Speaker A: It's the shift in mindset, and then it's just that domino effect of all of these fun holidays that come up. So you've got Halloween and Thanksgiving and then you have everything that's happening in December. And so, I don't know, I just. Yeah, I love it.
[00:01:22] Speaker B: Well, and I'm glad that the weather is cooling off. I'm definitely a summertime person, but I have to say the weather has been getting on my nerves and it needed to take a chill pill. And I think it did.
[00:01:32] Speaker A: I think it really did.
[00:01:33] Speaker B: I think it did.
[00:01:33] Speaker A: I think I'm actually going to be more prone to wanting to be physically active outside now that it's cooled down.
So taking a walk after work is going to be, you know, more ideal than. Oh, I see.
[00:01:47] Speaker B: Because you want to be outside. It feels good outside. You know, it's funny because teaching classes, you know, when we're inside the rec center, our air conditioning is like, set on 50. It's super cold in there and it's. I mean, we needed that cold.
But then when you come outside and you've had on, like, workout pants, they are not good for hot weather. It is the most uncomfortable thing to wear. And so I'm just trying to get to my car so, like, hopefully I can turn on my air conditioning. But now I don't have to worry about that and just roll down my windows. It feels great. So I'm very grateful and we have to recap. Everybody, we got our flu shots.
[00:02:19] Speaker A: Yes, we did.
[00:02:19] Speaker B: I think we told all our listeners.
[00:02:21] Speaker A: Yes. And we can actually will. We will even put somewhere some social.
[00:02:27] Speaker B: Somewhere in the social media universe.
[00:02:29] Speaker A: I think on WVUAFM's InstaStory, they used a picture of us. Yeah.
Okay.
[00:02:37] Speaker B: Yes, clearly, I need to follow our radio station, and I will do that right now.
[00:02:43] Speaker A: Absolutely. We're pulling out our phones now. Speaking of physical activity, you know, one of the last times I saw you earlier this week was that our employee Work and Wellness. Work Life.
[00:02:54] Speaker B: Work Life Expo.
[00:02:55] Speaker A: Yes. I saw you and Charles out down on the floor. Now, I did not go down, but I wanted to know, did people actually partake in the physical activity?
[00:03:04] Speaker B: Look, okay, here's the thing. We had one participant the whole day.
That was all we had.
[00:03:10] Speaker C: Oh, my goodness.
[00:03:11] Speaker A: Well, hey, if anything else, it's a good experiment of showing, you know, how apt people are to be physically. We can ask what would prevent you and entice you to do it.
[00:03:22] Speaker B: You know, honestly, it was really funny because when you would walk around and you would get your food and your goodies, people would come in and sit down. They thought we were putting on a show. So at one point, me and Charles and then Dee, we just get up and I go, guys, quick, let's pretend we're exercising. So I turned up the music and we're like, doing some stuff. And then people would kind of look and then they just walk away. And I had one person come down, and he was a really nice guy, and he was actually used to be one of our members at the rec center. So I think we might have got a membership out of it. So that was a plus. But no, we were reassessing what needed to be changed. I think we want to be more visible next time.
So I think that's our plan. But, you know, it was the first time we ever did anything like that. So I was like, let's just try it and see what happens. But it was a nice morning. I mean, we got to hang out together and talk and think about some program ideas, which was cool. So it wasn't a total waste?
[00:04:12] Speaker A: I'll say absolutely no. And I'm always just blown away by the types of vendors that our university is intentional about having for our employees. We have a new co worker who just moved from Mississippi and is having to establish all of these different services for her family. So she was just like, oh, my
[00:04:29] Speaker B: gosh, this is great.
[00:04:30] Speaker A: Perfect opportunities, all of this stuff. So I thought it was super helpful.
[00:04:34] Speaker B: Yeah, it was good. I mean, and I think I walked around a little bit and checked out some stuff, but, yeah, it was a good day.
[00:04:42] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:04:42] Speaker C: Well, good.
[00:04:42] Speaker A: Well, I just. I saw you from afar and I had to ask. But also with October, that is breast cancer awareness month. And so we. We get the pleasure of talking about that today. And we have an amazing guest which we are gonna introduce after the break. But, y', all, it's time for a break.
[00:05:00] Speaker B: Tell em.
[00:05:00] Speaker A: Sheena, grab a beverage. Hey, maybe this time it's not a cold beverage. Maybe you're getting some cider, some hot chocolate, hot tea, maybe a pumpkin spice something. But regardless, grab something and we will catch you after the break. You're listening to Fit to be tied with Sheena and Whitney on 90.7 the capst.
Welcome back. You are listening to Fit to be tied with Sheena and Whitney on 90.7 the Capstone. And during the break, we were just talking about what has been happening with my voice. Of course, Whitney quickly picked up on the fact that I was, was or am a little under the weather. And I made the comment that I feel like a little boy going through puberty. A little Peter Brady action.
[00:05:50] Speaker C: Little Peter Brady.
[00:05:51] Speaker A: But, you know, just a throwback in. For those of you who are too young to know what that reference is, please Google it.
[00:05:57] Speaker B: Yeah, the Brady Bunch. You've got to find some good life stories. Mr. Brady had a lot to say.
[00:06:02] Speaker A: Yes, he really did. And it's blended families.
[00:06:05] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:06:06] Speaker A: Oh, all of the things I'm still not sure about.
[00:06:09] Speaker B: Alice the housekeeper and why there was really a housekeeper.
[00:06:12] Speaker A: Cause Mrs. Brady didn't work, so. And she was a pretty good homemaker.
[00:06:17] Speaker B: I don't know. I'm just so confused. But anyway, yeah, so.
[00:06:21] Speaker A: And we mentioned at the beginning of this show, October Breast Cancer awareness Month. And it gives us the opportunity for fabulous guests. And so I actually want to introduce our guest right now. It's Dr. Marianne Kelly, who is an assistant professor in the Capstone College of Nursing. Now, did I say your title and position correctly?
[00:06:44] Speaker C: You did.
[00:06:44] Speaker A: Okay, perfect. I like to be very sensitive to that because we work hard for the roles that we have at ua. So I wanted to make sure it was correct.
[00:06:52] Speaker C: Well, I'm so happy to be here today.
[00:06:54] Speaker B: We are glad you are with us. So it is Breast Cancer awareness Month. And so talk to us a little before we dive into all of that. Talk to us a little bit about your current role and just what you do and your history of working at UA.
[00:07:09] Speaker C: Well, I have now been at UA for 16 years as a nursing faculty. I started in maternity nursing and now I am a four day clinical faculty in fundamentals.
[00:07:20] Speaker B: Oh, oh.
[00:07:22] Speaker A: So what do you do in fundamentals? Yeah, I'm like, what is fundamentals? That's my next question.
[00:07:26] Speaker C: Fundamentals is basically the basics of nursing.
So we learn things like bed baths, bed making, feeding patients, turning patients, cleaning patients.
[00:07:39] Speaker A: Okay, okay.
[00:07:40] Speaker B: But you know, that's like, it doesn't seem super important. Cause it's like these little things that you do, but they're so important. Like turning people in the bed. Like you cannot lay in a bed. The same position.
Wow.
Fundamentals.
[00:07:54] Speaker A: Yes. Well, I remember last fall when I had my son and just of course that time in the hospital after giving birth, really just being at the mercy of my nurses. And I'm so grateful. Just such wonderful bedside manner that they had. And really just being very cognizant of just the sensitivities of. You just feel so exposed and vulnerable. And the fact that I could tell that, you know, they were being sensitive to that was top notch.
[00:08:22] Speaker C: So, yeah, that is my true love is maternity.
[00:08:26] Speaker B: That's awesome.
[00:08:26] Speaker C: Yes, I do miss that a little bit. But I enjoy my fundamental students because they are like almost like open books just waiting to be filled.
So I enjoy doing that.
So that's basically what I do. Four days a week I take students to the hospital or clinical practice lab.
[00:08:43] Speaker A: Okay. Now education wise, where did you obtain your education from?
[00:08:48] Speaker C: Well, I am a Mississippian.
[00:08:50] Speaker B: All right. Okay, Very nice.
[00:08:52] Speaker C: However, since I've been here 16 years, I am a roll tie fan.
[00:08:55] Speaker B: There you go.
[00:08:58] Speaker A: And if we had a camera here, you would see that she is donning her houndstooth.
[00:09:03] Speaker B: Yes, of course.
[00:09:05] Speaker C: Got to represent.
So actually two of my degrees are from Mississippi. My BSN and my MSN. And then I actually came to UAB for my PhD.
[00:09:16] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:09:16] Speaker C: And that is kind of. That's kind of how I ended up in Alabama. Okay.
[00:09:20] Speaker A: I like it.
[00:09:21] Speaker C: And basically been here since.
[00:09:22] Speaker B: Well, we are glad you're here and you're on our show. But we want to talk about breast cancer health and awareness. And so we've noticed that your research interests include many women and minority health issues.
[00:09:35] Speaker A: So you want to talk a little bit about that?
[00:09:37] Speaker C: Well, my main focus is breast cancer awareness, early detection in African American rural underserved women.
I've been studying that topic probably almost 25 years now.
So since I've been in Alabama 16 of those years, I have been studying that topic the entire 16 years here. Wow.
[00:09:57] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:09:57] Speaker A: What piqued your interest in such a specific area?
[00:10:02] Speaker C: Well, other than the fact that I am African American, I actually have a family history. My mom succumbed to the disease and. And then recently I was diagnosed and I am now a four year survivor.
[00:10:15] Speaker B: Wow, that is funny.
[00:10:18] Speaker C: Two areas. So once my mother was diagnosed and all the things my family went through with that diagnosis, I just felt the need to educate as many women as I could about how they could live with the diagnosis of breast cancer.
[00:10:34] Speaker A: Well, you know, when I knew we were going to have you on the show and this was our topic, I was actually
[email protected] and the Susan G. Komen foundation website, and I saw that they had both cited that in 2019, there was going to be an estimated 268,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and over 41,000 breast cancer deaths. And those kind of numbers are so staggering to me. They're just very, very sobering, for lack of better words. Just I don't think that people always realize the prevalence of that. And so when they say, can you tell me a little bit about what's considered invasive breast cancer versus what would be non invasive, are there certain tiers of that or is there a specific reason why they might have used that word invasive?
[00:11:24] Speaker C: So, yes.
So tumor cells are actually. Because your regular cells start growing irregularly. And so if the cancer cell is just in like one little duct of your breast and it hasn't gone anywhere else and it hasn't gotten to a certain size as far as millimeters or centimeters, they call that non invasive.
And so the numbers that you just quoted doesn't even include those women.
[00:11:51] Speaker A: Right, right. That's what I was thinking about.
[00:11:53] Speaker C: Even though those women still have to go through treatments, they just don't include them because it's caught at such an early stage, which is wonderful.
So once it starts spreading and getting larger, then they call it an invasive cancer.
[00:12:06] Speaker A: Okay, okay. Thank you for sharing that with me. Yeah, because I was thinking, I was like, if that just explained explicitly and exclusively stating invasive, I'm like, what could these numbers look like? So, yeah, that's good to know.
[00:12:18] Speaker B: Well, and I think, you know, our listeners are all over the place. They are students, they are faculty, staff, community members. And with it being National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, what kind of activities are you aware of that are being done at UA Tuscaloosa Community to raise awareness of breast cancer?
[00:12:40] Speaker C: Well, you did mention earlier about the employee Wellness Life Wellness.
[00:12:46] Speaker B: Work Life.
[00:12:47] Speaker C: Work Life Wellness Expo.
[00:12:50] Speaker B: Yes, Work Life Wellness Expo.
[00:12:52] Speaker C: Well, there Were quite a few tables that had the pink ribbons. Oh, yeah. So it's kind of like every department at some point in time will say something about breast cancer awareness. But actually the capstone college of Nursing, we actually have a table every Monday in October talking about breast cancer awareness.
[00:13:13] Speaker A: Oh, where is that table located at?
[00:13:15] Speaker C: In the lobby on first floor.
[00:13:16] Speaker A: Okay. We'll have to make a trek there tomorrow.
[00:13:19] Speaker B: Well, and you know what?
[00:13:20] Speaker C: Mondays. Mondays.
[00:13:21] Speaker B: Mondays.
[00:13:22] Speaker C: That is tomorrow.
[00:13:23] Speaker B: Yeah, it is. I know. I wish this weekend was longer.
[00:13:25] Speaker A: I know.
[00:13:26] Speaker B: I really wish this weekend was longer.
We can only pray for. We don't get Columbus Day. No, we don't.
[00:13:32] Speaker C: No, we will be at work.
[00:13:34] Speaker B: We'll be at work.
[00:13:35] Speaker C: So please come back tomorrow.
[00:13:37] Speaker B: Yes, we will come by tomorrow. But I know at the rec center we have one of the little Christmas trees, the little white Christmas trees where you can put, like, you can write somebody's name on there.
Is that related to you guys?
[00:13:48] Speaker C: No, actually, that is the women and gender resource center.
I did not know that tree every.
Pretty much every October.
[00:13:56] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:13:57] Speaker C: So people can recognize those that have succumbed to the disease or even to honor those that are survivors.
[00:14:03] Speaker B: Yeah.
And I'll share this with you guys and then we'll take a quick little break. We actually a class at the rec center. It's the stretch class in collaboration with DCH hospital. So survivors that are surviving breast cancer will go to the impact meetings with DCH but then they also get referred to me and I give them a tour and we give them a complimentary membership to the rec center and they get to come and they get to do the class with us. And so we focus on strength because depending on the type of trauma that these ladies have had and some gentlemen that have had, we focus on certain stretches to loosen everything up. And honestly, it's just a good community of ladies that come in.
It's great. So we'll have to talk more about that, but we are going to take a break.
Y' all hang tight. Thanks for listening to us on your Sunday afternoon. That was my happy dance. You're listening to fit to be tied with Sheena and Whitney on 90.7 the Capstone.
Welcome back. You're listening to fit to be tied with Sheena and Whitney on 90.7 the Capstone, and Dr. Kelly is with us today. And we are talking about breast cancer health.
[00:15:23] Speaker A: I like that.
[00:15:24] Speaker B: Did you like that? I wanted to grab our listeners, you know.
[00:15:27] Speaker A: Exactly. We're talking about breasts.
[00:15:28] Speaker B: We're talking about breasts on the radio.
This is a really good Topic and good conversation, especially since it is October and we want to honor that and bring as much awareness to breast cancer as we can. So I think really talking about early detection is key.
Not like that's the only thing to look at. But I think that with our listeners being all over the place, college and faculty, staff members and community members, I think early detection is a good idea to talk about, especially for our college ladies.
[00:15:59] Speaker C: I totally agree. Yeah, totally agree.
[00:16:01] Speaker B: So what kind of knowledge can you
[00:16:03] Speaker A: drop on us about like, how old should this start?
What should this look like?
[00:16:08] Speaker C: Well, it depends on what reference you read. So I usually tell my college age or even teenagers that if you have breasts, it is time for you to be aware of your breasts. So start looking in the mirror for changes in your breast and we can go in detail as to what you're looking for. But you need to know what your body looks like. And eventually as you get older, kind of past starting your menstrual cycle and getting finished with the pains and things that go along with menstrual cycles, and you get used to that, then I would say start actually touching and examining your breasts to know the changes such as lumpy breasts or drainage from your breast or soreness in your breast. That is unusual. So there's lots of things and we have lots of literature that can help you understand that.
[00:16:58] Speaker B: So I'm guessing you know, if, if you're younger and you're going like when you go through puberty, that's what I'm thinking is like if you're, I guess middle school is like it's been so long ago. Yeah. Oh gosh. Middle school years. So like middle school years. And when you're developing and when you're going through puberty, like really, you need to know what you look like. You need to start taking note of these things. And so would you say like teenagers, even in high school need to start.
[00:17:24] Speaker C: I would say teenagers in high school would become aware of what the breasts look like. Usually don't suggest breast self examination yet just because your breasts are changing so much. But by the time you become a college student, like 19, 20, 21, then you know your breasts are pretty much like they're going to be.
[00:17:42] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:17:42] Speaker A: Now, as far as mammograms go, what is the starting age for having that type of exam and does that age recommendation change if there is a family history of breast cancer?
[00:17:56] Speaker C: Very good question.
So the age right now is 40, 40 years and older should start their yearly mammograms. However, if you have A family history, risk factors that put you at higher risk of getting breast cancer, then we suggest as early as 35. Okay.
[00:18:13] Speaker A: Okay. And forgive me for this sounding like such an ignorant question, but it's really for my curiosity, and hopefully many of our listeners have this type of curiosity. But what exactly is involved in a mammogram?
[00:18:27] Speaker B: Because I've never had one.
[00:18:29] Speaker A: And as much of. In a nutshell that we can share on the radio, I guess I just, you know, even like, what does that process look like? Obviously, it involves some kind of equipment beyond just a human.
[00:18:42] Speaker B: This is going to be the best show. Everybody is listening right now.
[00:18:47] Speaker C: Okay. For those who have never had a mammogram, I would suggest that you Google what the machine looks like. But, yes, they will actually put each breast individually in a machine and they will actually try to condense that breast tissue as much as they can. So some people think of mammograms as making your breasts like a pancake. So maybe not a pancake, but you will be flattened out some, and it could be a little uncomfortable if you have not prepared yourself for it. So things like decrease the caffeine, do not be on your menstrual cycle when you go, if at all possible, because your breasts will be tender anyway.
So those kind of things. But it is to take a picture of all your breasts tissue and to look for any changes that could depict a cancerous tissue.
[00:19:37] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:19:39] Speaker A: I appreciate that explanation, just because it's not anything that I've ever thought about in terms of, oh, what's involved in that. You just hear, you need to get a mammogram at this age. And it's like, oh, what is that?
[00:19:51] Speaker B: So 40 is the age like you, unless you have a family history.
[00:19:54] Speaker C: Unless you have a family history or many risk factors. And that could go into a whole nother discussion as to what are risk factors.
[00:20:00] Speaker A: Well, you know, which, Whitney, I'm pretty sure you and I, we're the same age, right?
[00:20:03] Speaker B: We are 34.
[00:20:05] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:20:05] Speaker B: Should we say that on the radio?
[00:20:07] Speaker A: Yeah. So we're on the brink of 35 later this fall.
[00:20:10] Speaker B: Yes.
[00:20:10] Speaker A: So, you know, I'm thinking, okay, I need to look and see. I mean, surely I wouldn't know if I had a family history, but I might need to call my mom.
[00:20:17] Speaker C: You need to call yourself.
Because I didn't find out that, of course I knew my mother had it, but I did not know that her sister, which is my aunt, also had it.
[00:20:27] Speaker A: Wow.
[00:20:28] Speaker C: Until I was diagnosed. So, yes, you may need to ask those questions.
[00:20:31] Speaker A: We used to call our families with.
[00:20:32] Speaker B: We do, yeah, send that text. I'm just kidding.
[00:20:36] Speaker A: Rice. Like, so we just need to check this out.
[00:20:39] Speaker B: So how often. So let's talk about an actual breast, like at home breast exam. Because you gave us these little goodie bags and I was looking through it, I was like, oh my gosh, this looks like a little pamphlet on what's normal and how to do a little breast exam, which is really cool.
So how often should you do it and what should you be looking for?
[00:21:01] Speaker C: So things that you should be looking for are changes.
So we call it breast self awareness now rather than a breast self exam. Cause a breast self exam sounds more medically like. So yes, I had to be trained to do a breast cancer self exam. But to be aware of your breasts, you just have to be sure of what is normal for you. So if you have inverted nipples and you've always had inverted nipples, that's totally normal. However, if you all of a sudden wake up one morning and one of them is inverted and the other one is not, that is something you need to go get checked.
[00:21:35] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:21:35] Speaker C: Also of course, lumps that are obvious, redness that is obvious, obvious open sores, any drainage from your nipples, one breast being larger than the other one, that are changes because people normally have one breast larger than the other. But if this is a change, I cannot emphasize enough a change.
So only way you will know it's a change is to be aware of your breasts at all points in time. So how often should you look at your breasts? Well, I say whenever you look in the mirror.
[00:22:03] Speaker B: Every day.
[00:22:04] Speaker C: Every day.
But I would say take some time, at least once a month, preferably after your menstrual cycle, so that your breasts are back to normal and look in the mirror and look for changes in touch and feel at least once a month.
[00:22:20] Speaker B: I love that we're talking about this, especially on the radio for it to be broadcast because I think, you know, I think nowadays we're a little bit more comfortable with things, but I think there's still this, like, we can't talk about that or like you can't look at yourself like that or you can't like do that. But yes, it's your body and you need to understand your body. And I think that's great that you're mentioning those things for sure.
[00:22:40] Speaker A: Right? Because I feel like, you know, I've had friends that will even just say, like, oh, my partner will tell me if they've noticed something and I'm, you know, they're like, my partner's the one that's touching my boobs. I'm like.
[00:22:53] Speaker B: But at the same time, like, you
[00:22:54] Speaker A: need to like, yeah, you know, I know. Sorry for saying boobs instead of breasts. I should keep it more, you know, clinically speaking.
[00:23:02] Speaker B: Well, it's just ups our ratings, you know.
[00:23:05] Speaker C: Please check your own bread.
[00:23:06] Speaker B: Yes, yes.
[00:23:08] Speaker A: Well, no, I mean, I just again, like Whitney said, I love that we're talking about this, and I think that you've brought a lot of clarity to what these processes look like. And like you said, just having that self awareness and then even with the mammogram, for me to know what that process looks like. Because at first I thought like, oh, is it gonna be like an ultrasound wand that they just, you know, kind of stroke all over?
[00:23:30] Speaker C: Yeah. X ray. X ray.
[00:23:32] Speaker A: So that's good to know for sure. But I mean, I feel like, you know, we have so much information that we're able to share in the show today. And Dr. Kelly, I know that you mentioned you're going to have some additional stats to share with us as we start talking about some lifestyle factors. I'm really curious to debunk some myths or some, you know, some things that have. People sometimes will make assumptions about the correlation of certain lifestyle behaviors with breast cancer and the risk of for that. So I guess we're gonna be talking about all that stuff.
[00:24:05] Speaker C: You know, I'm excited. I can talk about breast cancer awareness all day, every day.
[00:24:10] Speaker A: Well, listen there, y'. All. So we gotta take another break. You were listening to Fit to Be Tied with Sheena and Whitney. Grab that beverage, grab that bathroom break, go check out your breasts and then come back and join us. We'll catch you after the.
Welcome back. You're listening to Fit to Be Tied with Sheena and Whitney on 90.7 the Capstone. Oh, my goodness, I can't wait to tell my husband that I told people to check out their breasts during the break.
[00:24:48] Speaker B: Well, technically, I think before you used the word boobs, but then we had to say breasts.
[00:24:53] Speaker A: Yes, I was just like, will be. We'll use some clinical terminology.
And so, hubby, if you're listening, there you go.
But okay, so before the break, you know, I know that we had alluded to wanting to talk about certain lifestyle behaviors that affect or prevent breast cancer. So I'm just gonna stop right there and let you take over. Dr. Kelly, you know, what does that look like? Are there certain things that affect or prevent breast cancer in relation to physical activity or other lifestyle behaviors? Maybe the types of things that maybe quote, unquote, vices that we engage in, so to speak.
[00:25:32] Speaker C: So in medical terminology, we do not like to use the word prevent breast cancer because there's so much surrounding breast cancer as far as family history and genetics. So we say early detection.
So of course, lifestyle does play a part in it. So things like exercising or not exercising. So of course, exercise helps a lot of things, including breast cancer prevalence. So it's been shown that women who are overweight or obese actually have more fat tissue. And fat tissue, believe it or not, produces estrogen, which has been linked to increased breast cancer risk. So something to think about. So do those exercises also eating right? Of course. High fat diet leads to obesity, which leads to again, those fat cells. So, of course, low fat, some fiber in your diet.
Believe it or not, alcohol and smoking. We already know that smoking is linked to so many cancers. It's also linked to increased incidence of breast cancer. Alcohol is also linked to increased incidence of breast cancer.
Now, let me talk about stress level, since I am a faculty member and a nurse.
So, yes, we're under a lot of stress. So women who are under increased stress have been shown to have increased incidence of breast cancer.
And so we think that. Well, first of all, women who are highly educated usually have higher.
Higher stress, stressful jobs. Excuse me? Women who are highly educated have more stressful jobs.
Stress is linked to cortisols. Cortisols in your body leads to deterioration or inflammation of your cells, which can lead to increased incidence of breast cancer. So just something to think about.
[00:27:26] Speaker B: So we need to exercise, we need to eat right or better. We need to decrease our stress. We don't need to smoke and we don't need to drink excessive alcohol. We could still have a drink or two, so.
Or not.
[00:27:43] Speaker C: I'm just gonna say read the literature.
[00:27:46] Speaker A: Tell us, tell us.
[00:27:48] Speaker C: Well, they actually have been linked to an amount of alcohol.
[00:27:51] Speaker B: Okay.
[00:27:52] Speaker C: So the studies basically were surveys to just say women who said they drunk alcohol versus women who said they did not. There was decreased incidence of cancer in those that did not drink at all.
[00:28:04] Speaker B: So we don't have an actual, like, okay, these women said they drink the recommended, like, whatever cups of whatever glasses. Okay.
[00:28:12] Speaker C: Yeah. There's no number.
[00:28:13] Speaker A: Now, is there any concern out there about people being on oral contraceptives and correlation with breast cancer?
[00:28:22] Speaker C: So that is a hot topic.
So for women going through menopause, we already know that hormone replacement therapy has been linked to increased incidence of breast cancer. Where those hormone replacement therapies for those in Menopause had estrogen in them.
So some birth control pills or oral contraceptives have estrogen. So those that have estrogen have been linked to increased incidence of breast cancer. But we have so many oral contraceptives which have progesterone only. So I would say discuss that with your healthcare provider.
[00:28:56] Speaker B: Sure.
[00:28:57] Speaker A: Well, if we. Again, if we had a camera on the show right now, you would see that we are a very diverse group of women here at the table. We have a beautiful African American woman. We have a Caucasian woman. We have an Asian woman. And so with all of those different ethnicities, are there groups that are at higher risk or what does that.
How does that break down?
[00:29:22] Speaker C: Very interesting question.
A great question. So believe it or not, Caucasians have the highest incidence of breast cancer.
Next to them are African Americans.
And then Asian falls under that.
Hispanic actually falls before Asian.
[00:29:41] Speaker A: Okay.
[00:29:42] Speaker C: As far as incident numbers, however, as far as the health disparity of all the races, African American have the highest disparity in actual mortality from breast cancer.
Oh, my goodness. There is as much difference as 8%. For instance, 20% of Caucasians may. Excuse me, 20% of Caucasian women may actually die of breast cancer compared to 28% of African Americans.
[00:30:10] Speaker A: Now, does that have to do with access to resources or when detection happens?
And I know that that could be a complete.
[00:30:23] Speaker C: So many factors. So many factors playing a part. We used to think it was access to care. And so, of course, urban versus rural. It has been shown that rural women have a higher incidence or higher rate of mortality versus urban because of access to care. However, whether you are Caucasian or African American or Asian, if you don't have the resources, and of course the cancer will grow longer and of course the mortality, it would be higher. But there's so many other factors. I could take a whole list of all the factors that play a part.
[00:30:56] Speaker A: Well, we might just have to have you on for a second show sometime.
[00:31:01] Speaker B: We definitely need to do that. Okay, so I was thinking, and I was reading and I was looking, and, you know, something caught my eye, and it was this consumption of dairy products, which we know that I am a fool for ice cream. And so I think we need to talk about dairy for just second.
[00:31:17] Speaker C: Okay, so diet, since I'm sitting at the table with a nutritionist or dietitian, there's some debate about.
Excuse me, there's a debate about dairy products. First of all, if foods are high in fat, which we know that a lot of dairy products are high in fat and ice cream are high in
[00:31:40] Speaker B: fat, I'm very aware. I'm very aware.
[00:31:43] Speaker C: So the studies that I have read does not particularly point to just dietary. Excuse me, just dairy products. Because most persons who are eating a high fat diet also eat a large number of dairy products. So it's kind of hard to divide that line talking to a dietitian. So if you eat pork chops in hog maw and chitlins, we're in the South, y'.
[00:32:08] Speaker B: All.
[00:32:09] Speaker C: And pig feed also, you're eating things like fried chicken every day. And then on top of that, you eat ice cream for dessert. Then I can't really link.
[00:32:19] Speaker A: Sure.
[00:32:20] Speaker B: It kind of all. Yeah, it kind of like all lumps in when you have certain food choices. Well, and then I was also thinking about, you know, I'm kind of a hippie at heart. I really. I really am. There's things about me I love my essential oils and all that good stuff. And I have tried hippie deodorant.
Hippie deodorant.
And it don't work.
Have you tried epidioma?
[00:32:42] Speaker A: I have no. I've gone so hippie that I've actually gotten the. Like, just the crystal itself.
[00:32:46] Speaker B: And so is this really a thing that antiperspirants are causing breast cancer or linked to breast cancer?
[00:32:57] Speaker C: So the last literature search I did, it said no, antiperspirants do not cause breast cancer.
And the reason they were saying that is because a lot of antiperspirants have aluminum in them.
So if you look at the actual literature that linked aluminium to breast cancer risk, it was more like the workers in plants that produce aluminum.
[00:33:21] Speaker A: Oh, okay.
[00:33:23] Speaker C: Wow. You getting that?
[00:33:24] Speaker A: Yeah.
[00:33:25] Speaker C: So it's just like, if I work at a chemical plant, I'm at higher risk of a lot of diseases.
Same with aluminum products. If it gets in your system a high enough level, it's gonna cause a lot of things, including breast cancer.
[00:33:37] Speaker B: Wow.
[00:33:38] Speaker C: Your deodorant does not have that much aluminum in it.
[00:33:41] Speaker B: See, that's what I'm wondering. Cause I gotta have some antiperspirant. I'm sure you can tell Tuscaloosa, Alabama, right now.
[00:33:47] Speaker A: Cause we get ripe easily.
[00:33:49] Speaker B: Well, yeah. And especially being in the south, hippie deodorant does not work. Yes. What were you saying you use?
[00:33:56] Speaker A: It's so the. What.
Basically, my mom used to get them from the Oriental grocery stores. It would be like this little like crystal rock thing. And you would literally, like, you would apply it to yourself.
[00:34:08] Speaker B: Like, do you feel it on you?
[00:34:10] Speaker A: No, it's like it basically, it's like it melts away almost like a, like a. It would be similar to like a salt slab.
And it just kind of.
[00:34:18] Speaker B: Do you think it works?
[00:34:19] Speaker A: It did when I was like a young girly 30 year old woman. Yeah, but I think, I think that's the component that they use in the hippie deodorant and they grind it in a paste. Oh, that's interesting. Yeah. But okay, you know, obviously we've got to take another break and normally we do not keep our guests on for the last five minutes, but Whitney and I have a couple more questions to ask you to do for. Sure.
[00:34:44] Speaker C: Happy to assist.
[00:34:46] Speaker B: Well, we are gonna take a break, so you guys go grab your cold drink or hot drink and we'll catch you on the other side. You're listening to Fit to Be tied with Sheena and Whitney on 90.7 the Capstone.
Welcome back to Fit to be Time. Sheena and Whitney on 90.7 the Capstone. Thanks again for spending your lovely Sunday afternoon with us with some cooler weather, some fall weather, and we are celebrating breast cancer awareness month and we've had Dr. Kelly on the show and we are going to close it out with some more little tips and tricks that she may have up her sleeve. But most importantly, I think we need to talk about the resources and the recommendations for the community. So do you know of any outreach opportunities or support groups or organizations? Like if someone wants to be a part of those things, they can volunteer to be a part of because weren't
[00:35:45] Speaker A: you involved in something pretty snazzy yesterday in Birmingham, Right?
[00:35:49] Speaker C: Oh, actually I was. So it was the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure, which is the largest race in the state of Alabama, also raises funds for breast cancer research.
[00:36:03] Speaker A: Okay, now, is there, are there any opportunities for individuals to get involved in breast cancer awareness or raising funds specific to Tuscaloosa, or is that kind of more of like a regional type?
[00:36:16] Speaker C: Well, actually, we have an American Cancer Society chapter right here in Tuscaloosa and you can volunteer at any point in time. I think it's in your Google. Google American Cancer Society, Tuscaloosa.
I said the DCH Madison Cancer center has support groups as well as volunteer opportunities for those that want to work with oncology or cancer patients and kind
[00:36:40] Speaker B: of going off of that. I know I mentioned it earlier. You know, the cancer center, we work. The rec center works very closely with them. This has been something we've been doing for a while, but I think it's changed hands from different facilities because I think that it used to be another facility in town. And then it kind of lost a plate. They didn't have a home anymore and so we took it on. But we actually.
I will get referrals, as I mentioned earlier, from the cancer center for breast cancer awareness. That's part of their programming is they will reach out to me and I will meet these participants in the lobby and give them a tour of the facility.
Because the rec center can be very intimidating. It's a big facility and everybody thinks, oh, it's just student. So I have to kind of be mindful of that when I'm giving them that tour. And I make it very easy. I have them come in, show them how they swipe their action card when they get that parking services has been great to actually comp their parking pass for the rec center. So they can only park at the rec center but at least they don't have to pay for anything because they found that to be such a value to get somebody into exercise. But we do stretching depending on the type of trauma that they've had, but then also some strength I exercises. And most importantly, it's really a support group. And so it's been going on at the rec center, I mean over 10 years. I want to say probably 15 years maybe at the rec center. Of course I've been in, have been in my position about eight years. But yeah. So if you know anybody or if you guys are listening and you're a part of DCH Breast Cancer center and you've gone through treatment, then definitely come reach out to me. I'd love to set you up.
[00:38:13] Speaker C: Well, thank you for the information because I learned something today.
[00:38:16] Speaker B: Yes?
[00:38:17] Speaker A: Well, one thing, and I think I mentioned this during the break, I think it's probably important for us to note that breast cancer is not necessarily a women exclusive cancer. Is that correct, Dr. Kelly? I know the prevalence is obviously much different.
[00:38:34] Speaker C: Females of course, have the highest incidence.
However, about 2,000 men will get breast cancer in 2019.
Of that 2,000, about 500 will actually die of the disease.
[00:38:47] Speaker A: Now do you know just from your work how detection usually works for the male population?
[00:38:55] Speaker C: Usually that's probably why the mortality rate is so high, because they don't notice it until it's visible. And once the cancer is visible, it's pretty large by that time. So men think they don't need to do breast self exams, but. But men can do it also they have tissue. So just be aware, look in the mirror, check yourself every month.
[00:39:16] Speaker A: Just like females, men be aware of those breasts, not just the ladies breasts.
[00:39:21] Speaker B: But, you know, I wonder, like, when a male actually goes into their general physician, if that's something that they talk with them about. They don't necessarily not. That's very interesting.
[00:39:31] Speaker C: A testicular is more of a male thing. Prostate and not breast.
[00:39:34] Speaker B: But I guess it goes back to what you were saying. If you see and this is knowing your body, not just even your breasts, but also knowing like just your body and taking note and knowing any changes in your body to be very aware of those, I think that's a good takeaway from this.
[00:39:48] Speaker A: Absolutely. No, I just. I love today's show. Dr. Kelly, thank you so much for joining us.
[00:39:55] Speaker C: I'm glad to be here.
[00:39:56] Speaker A: Absolutely.
[00:39:56] Speaker B: Yeah.
[00:39:57] Speaker A: You took time from your Sunday afternoon.
[00:39:59] Speaker C: Oh, my goodness.
[00:40:00] Speaker A: Yeah. So we are grateful. But, you guys, thank you so much for listening to us. We hope that you have learned as much as Whitney and I have. We definitely have learned a lot today. But y' all have been listening to Fit to Be tied with Sheena and Whitney on 90.7 the Capstone, and we hope you have a wonderful week.
Sam.
