Chapter 15.5, Problem 1TAI

A Case Study

A Wake-Up Call

health CONNECTION

Barbara is a 64-year-old African-American woman with a family history of cancer. Her mom passed away from breast cancer at 70 and her dad passed away from lung cancer at 63. Both of her parents were heavy smokers, but because Barbara doesn’t smoke, she has never considered herself at high risk for cancer despite her family history. Barbara is a very busy woman. She works part-time as a nurse and helps care for her two small grandchildren two days a week. Because she is so busy, Barbara often eats out and she does not have time to regularly exercise.

At her annual physical, Barbara’s doctor finds a lump in Barbara’s breast and orders a mammogram. She also expresses concern over Barbara’s diet and physical inactivity. While this lump turns out to be benign, Barbara decides to use this scare to motivate herself to make lifestyle changes that will hopefully reduce her risk of dying from breast cancer like her mom did.

In 2015, an estimated 232,000 cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States.¹¹ Deaths from breast cancer are highest among African-American women and lowest among Asian/Pacific Islander women. The American Cancer Society recommends that in order to prevent breast and other cancers, women and men should maintain a healthy weight throughout life, engage in regular physical activity, limit sedentary time, consume a healthy, plant-based diet, and limit alcohol consumption.¹²

Think About It

Barbara wants to reduce her cancer risk by making lifestyle changes. What changes relating to physical activity and diet do you think Barbara’s doctor would recommend?