Breast Cancer Awareness Month
If you have been seeing a lot of pink lately, you may want to take off your rose-colored glasses. If you aren’t wearing any, then it’s probably because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Personally, this month causes me to reflect on those I love who have lost so much due to breast cancer. As a healthcare provider, I am reminded of my duty to educate, screen, and advocate for my patients to prevent them from suffering from this disease.
If you don’t know anyone who’s had breast cancer or lost anyone to breast cancer, consider yourself lucky. In America, approximately 264,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women each year, and 42,000 women die from breast cancer annually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and The American Cancer Society reports that breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in women second only to skin cancer. If these figures scare you, they should. That is why I wanted to take the opportunity to remind you how important breast cancer screening is and to encourage you to protect yourself by getting a mammogram.
If you think you’re not at risk for breast cancer, think again. If you are a woman, and you have breasts, you either are at risk or will be at risk for breast cancer sometime in your life. Although some groups of women, such as African American women, may have a higher risk of dying from breast cancer, any woman over the age of 50 years or any woman who is obese, has type 2 diabetes, smokes cigarettes, is postmenopausal taking hormone replacement therapy, or has family history of cancer is at risk for developing breast cancer. The good news is, undergoing regular screening mammograms can catch breast cancer in its earlier stages when treatment is less extensive and oftentimes more successful. Women who undergo regular mammograms have a 60% lower 10- year death rate and a 47% lower 20-year death rate following breast cancer diagnosis than women who do not undergo regular screening. So, it’s time to take the risk seriously, and get screened.
Annual Physicals are Key
Undergoing breast cancer screening may seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The first step to breast cancer screening is often seeing your healthcare provider for your annual physical. Prior to the exam, it’s a good idea to discuss any family history of breast cancer, especially in immediate family members like a sister or your mother. During the exam, it is likely that your health care provider will perform a manual and visual breast exam where they look for any visible changes in the appearance of the breasts and feel for any lumps or breast tenderness. If your exam is normal, and you are over the age of 40 years, your doctor may recommend a screening mammogram and send an order for the test to one of your local breast imaging centers. If you don’t have a doctor, you may be able to get a mammogram without an order. To find out how, contact your local breast imaging center or county health department.
Mammography Reviews
The next step in the process takes place at the breast imaging center. This may be at your county health department, a general imaging center, a specialty breast imaging center, or even a mobile mammography unit. The mammogram itself is a special type of xray that is used to detect breast cancer. The procedure is a little uncomfortable but otherwise painless. During the procedure, the technician will position your breast between two plates that compress the breast slightly while a picture is taken. Your breasts will be imaged in a couple of different positions to get the best view of your breast tissue. Feeling shy and awkward is normal, and you shouldn’t hesitate to let the technician know if you are nervous or if it is your first mammogram.
Your images will then be sent to a radiologist for review. If your mammogram is normal, you can continue screening mammograms every 1-2 years depending on your age and risk factors. If your mammogram is abnormal, the radiologist may recommend a diagnostic mammogram or a breast ultrasound to get a better look at any areas of concern. If the follow up testing is normal, you can return to a normal mammogram schedule. If the findings are questionable, and the radiologist is uncertain about their significance, they may recommend follow up testing in 6 months to check for any changes, or they may recommend undergoing breast biopsy. For any abnormal findings, it is a good idea to discuss them with your doctor or healthcare provider and develop a plan for ongoing care.
Talk to Your Doctor!
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in women of all ages. Talk to your doctor about your personal risk for breast cancer, and lower your risk of dying from breast cancer by undergoing regular screening mammograms after age of 40.
