How a Cancer Scare Prompted Lifestyle Changes
- “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Tamra Judge, 56, was diagnosed with cervical cancer and had multiple bouts with skin cancer, including melanoma. She says after discovering a lump in her breast, she chose to remove her implants to “take control of her health” following her breast cancer scare.
- The American Cancer Society says, “Studies show that silicone implants do not increase the risk of (tissue disease, breast cancer or reproductive problems).” Sometimes, implants can make it harder for doctors to detect cancer during a mammogram; thus, enhanced mammography may be needed.
- Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cautioned breast implants may pose skin and lymphoma cancer risks, although very small. Some SurvivorNet experts believe that although “cancers found in the implant capsules is concerning and further investigation is needed,” there’s still no significant need to sound the alarm. They add that “approximately 400,000 women” have implants each year, and the cancer incidence rate is “0.00075% or 1 in every 133,000 women.”
- Cervical cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the womb (uterus). It usually develops slowly, however, before cancer presents itself. Vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain are common symptoms.
- Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. You’re most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed skin areas like your face, neck, arms, and legs. However, you might also find them in your feet, eyes, and mouth.
Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Judge, 56, says she wanted to “take back control of her body” and felt her breast implants got in the way of that goal. Judge was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which forms in the cells of the cervix. She also discovered lumps in her breasts, which contributed to her decision to remove her implants.
It’s important to note, Judge did not say her implants contributed to the lumps found in her breast.
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Judge, a mother of four, revealed a few reasons why she wanted to get rid of her breast implants.
“I live a more active lifestyle now, and they really got in the way,” Judge explained.
“I am finally comfortable in my own skin, and I don’t need big ta-tas to make me look better,” she added in addition to her breast cancer scare.
She added that she does not miss her implants “at all.”
Judge underwent treatment for her cancer and said she undergoes regular screenings on the Dr. Oz show during an interview.
The popular Housewives star also had multiple run-ins with skin cancer.
She revealed in 2017, she was diagnosed with melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells change in a way that allows them to spread to other organs.
Judge says while filming the show in Iceland, she was getting a massage when she discovered a spot on her skin.
“The misuse told me, you have this little, tiny black dot, and it was on the side of my butt. If I were you, I would get that checked out,” Judge told Us Weekly during an interview.
Judge underwent a biopsy, and her dermatologist confirmed a stage 1 melanoma diagnosis.
“I probably would have never known it was there because it didn’t hurt, nothing was raised, there was no reason for me to think something was wrong,” Judge explained.
She underwent treatment for the cancer.
“I have a scar, and it’s a constant reminder for me to stay out of the sun, especially at my age,” Judge said.
Helping Patients Understand Cervical Cancer and Its Link to HPV
- ‘Controversial’ HPV Vaccine Shown to be Highly Effective in Wiping Out Cervical Cancer
- Can the U.S. Eliminate Cervical Cancer? Australia Says It’s About to Do Just That
- Farewell to the Pap Smear? World Health Organization Recommends HPV DNA Test As Best Screening Option for Cervical Cancer
- Breaking: HPV Vaccine Not Recommended For Adults Over 26, Per New American Cancer Society Guidelines
- Busting the Myths About the HPV Vaccine
How Implants Impact Breast Cancer Screening?
According to the National Institutes of Health, a standard mammogram may not be as effective when screening for breast cancer where implants are involved. This is because the implants can mask breast tissue, making it harder to detect cancer.
“The presence of silicone gel-filled breast implants may interfere with standard mammography since silicone is radiopaque (difficult to see on an X-ray), and the physical presence of the implant compresses fat and glandular tissues, creating more homogeneous dense tissue that frequently lacks the contrast needed to detect subtle early features associated with breast cancer,” the NIH says.
WATCH: Understanding 3D mammography
To get a clearer picture of breasts with implants, enhanced mammography, such as a 3D mammogram, may be used.
RELATED: When Should I Get a Mammogram?
Helping You Better Understand Cervical Cancer
As mentioned, Judge was diagnosed with cervical cancer, which forms in the cells of the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb), which connects the uterus to the vagina, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue,” the NCI explains.
“Over time, if not destroyed or removed, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and surrounding areas.”
While symptoms tend to be difficult to detect during cervical cancer’s early stages, some signs can still indicate something is amiss and needs a closer look.
The NCI explains that symptoms of early-stage cervical cancer may include:
- vaginal bleeding after sex
- vaginal bleeding after menopause
- vaginal bleeding between periods or periods that are heavier or longer than normal
- vaginal discharge that is watery and has a strong odor or that contains blood
- pelvic pain or pain during sex
HPV and Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, and more than 70% of cases are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). More than 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer, are preventable in people who get the HPV vaccine that is recommended for all preteens (both girls and boys) 11 to 12 years old in two doses administered between six and 12 months apart. The shots can also be started as early as nine years old.
“The key with the vaccine is that you received the vaccine before you ever reach sexual debut or have sexual encounters. So that’s why these vaccines are approved for young children ages 9, 10, 11 years old, up to 26,” Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer, told SurvivorNet.
The American Cancer Society recommends cervical cancer screenings begin at age 25, and HPV screening is recommended every five years after that.
More on HPV
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is “a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex,” the National Cancer Institute says.
HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers, and the majority of sexually active people will get the disease at some point in their lives.
Although nearly all cases of cervical cancer are indeed caused by HPV, people should also be aware that HPV puts both men and women at risk of developing several other cancers, such as oral cancer and cancers of the vagina, penis, anus, and throat.
Overall, HPV is believed to be the cause of 90% of anal and cervical cancers, approximately 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.
“There are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears,” says Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. “There are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the virus.”
On the plus side, HPV-related throat cancers are generally very responsive to a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, according to Dr. Geiger.
“The cure rates for people who have HPV-related disease are a lot higher than those who have tobacco-related throat cancer,” she said.
The HPV vaccine is recommended to protect against HPV and, therefore, HPV-related cancers.
Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine that offers protection against “nine HPV types: the two low-risk HPV types that cause most genital warts, plus seven high-risk HPV types that cause most HPV-related cancer,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
The vaccine creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers. Once children are vaccinated, they cannot be infected with that strain. For parents, the HPV vaccine enables them to protect their children from developing cancer in the future.
WATCH: Should children get the HPV Vaccine?
The HPV vaccine is recommended for all male and female preteens 11 to 12 years old in two doses given between six and 12 months, according to the CDC.
The series of shots can also start as young as nine.
The CDC also notes that teens and young adults through age 26 who didn’t start or finish the HPV vaccine series also need the vaccine.
Understanding Melanomas
Melanoma, as Tamra Judge had, is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. It starts in the same cells that give your skin, hair, and eyes their color. In melanoma, the cells change in a way that allows them to spread to other organs.
Changes to a mole you’ve had for a while or a new growth on your skin could be signs of melanoma, according to SurvivorNet’s experts. You’ll want to watch them and tell your doctor about any changes you notice.
You’re most likely to find melanoma on sun-exposed skin areas like your face, neck, arms, and legs. Surprisingly, you might also find them in other places as well, like:
- The palms of your hands or soles of your feet
- On your eyes or mouth
- Under your nails
SurvivorNet experts recommend avoiding unprotected sun exposure because ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to melanoma. Tanning beds pose ultraviolet radiation risks for skin cancer and should be avoided. Many dermatologists recommend using spray tans to reduce the risk of melanoma skin cancer.
WATCH: Checking Moles and Spots Can Be Lifesaving
If you’re diagnosed with melanoma, there’s a good chance surgery will be the treatment your doctor recommends. Cancer removal usually leads to a cure in the early stages of the disease.
Mohs surgery might be an option for an early-stage melanoma close to the skin surface. This technique removes skin cancer, layer by layer until all the cancer is gone.
Stage 1 melanoma surgery consists of simple, in-office removal of the cancerous cells by a dermatologist. If the cancer is thicker, your surgeon will remove it through a technique called wide excision surgery.
Stage 2 and stage 3 melanoma surgeries are performed by surgeons or surgical oncologists, not dermatologists. You may also have a sentinel lymph node biopsy to see if the melanoma has spread to the first lymph node where it’s most likely to travel. If your cancer has reached this first lymph node, it may have spread to other neighboring lymph nodes and organs.
After surgery, the removed tissue and lymph nodes are examined to measure the melanoma and determine if it has clear margins. Clear margins mean the cells around the area of tissue that was removed don’t contain any melanoma. When no cancer cells are left around the removed area, your cancer is less likely to return.
WATCH: How do you perform a skin check using the ABCDEs?
What Are the Symptoms of Melanoma?
The most important thing to look out for when it comes to finding melanoma is a new spot on your skin or a spot that is changing in size, shape, or color, SurvivorNet’s medical experts say.
When you check your skin, use the acronym ABCDE as your guide:
- Asymmetrical moles: If you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match?
- Borders: Is the mole irregular or jagged?
- Colors: Are there multiple distinct colors in the mole?
- Diameter: Is the mole larger than 6 millimeters (mm), about the size of a pencil head eraser?
- Evolution: Has the mole’s color, shape, or size changed over time?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, our experts say it’s time to see your dermatologist for a skin check.
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