Breast
Cancer awareness
Cancer awareness
- Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in
the U.S. - In 2012, 224,147 women and 2,125 men in the U.S. were
diagnosed with breast cancer. Of those, 41,150 women and 405 men died. On
average, 104 Mesa County women are diagnosed each year. - Warning signs include irritation or dimpling of breast skin,
new lump in the breast or underarm, thickening or swelling of part of the
breast and pain in any area of the breast. - Talk to your doctor about breast cancer screening. It won’t
reduce your risk, but it can help in finding breast cancer early, when it is
easier to fight. - Conduct self-exams at home.
- Lie on your back, so that your breast tissue spreads
evenly over the chest wall and as thin as possible. - Place use the finger pads of the three middle fingers of one
hand to feel for lumps in the opposite breast. - Use overlapping dime-sized circular motions of the finger pad
to feel the breast tissue. - Contact your doctor if you notice anything abnormal.
- Visit cancer.org for more information on self-exam
techniques.
SMALL GAME HUNTING TULAREMIA RISKS
- Small game season for several rabbits and hares, fox, pine squirrel and beavers began Oct. 1.
- All of these animals can carry tularemia, a bacterial infection that can be fatal in humans and animals.
- Colorado has seen an increase in human tularemia cases this year with 40 confirmed cases compared to 16 confirmed cases in 2014.
- Mesa County has had four confirmed cases since 2011 with three of those reported this year.
- Tularemia is spread through deer fly bites and contact with infected animals or carcasses.
- Avoid sick or dead animals. Protect against deer flies by wearing long clothing and insect repellant containing DEET.
- Do not allow your pets to consume animal carcasses. They could contract tularemia and pass it on to you.
- Wear rubber gloves when handling animal tissues, recommended even if the animal doesn’t appear to be sick. Be sure to wear gloves when field dressing the animal to protect against fluids and parasites.
- Bag carcasses or pelts and dispose in an outside garbage can, away from people and pets.
- Cook meat to 160 degrees Fahrenheit or until it is well done to kill all bacteria.
- Tularemia is treatable. Contact your physician if you become ill with high fever, swollen and painful lymph nodes, skin ulcers, sore throat or respiratory symptoms such as chest pain or a dry cough.
- Contact your vet if your pet becomes ill with a high fever and/or swollen lymph nodes after coming into contact with sick or dead animals or after hunting.