What you should know
Early detection and treatment of breast cancer is making a big difference in women?s health. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. One in eight women will get breast cancer.
About 50 years ago, one-fourth of women with breast cancer survived at least 10 years. Now, more than three-fourths survive 10 years. Even better, women with breast cancer that hasn?t yet spread beyond the breast (local breast cancer) might expect a 10-year survival rate as high as 85 percent. But if the breast cancer is discovered late and has spread to other body parts (metastatic breast cancer: stage IV), the 10-year survival rate drops below one-fourth.
Fortunately, the breast cancer death rates for both white and African-American women have dropped in the past 20 years. Yet the death rate for African-American women is still much higher than for white women. Some experts think many African-American women discover their cancer later when it has spread beyond the breast.
The incidence of breast cancer for women has changed over time. There are a lot of factors affecting the incidence.
Diagnosed breast cancer cases grew a lot with mammography screening. Mammography helped clinicians discover tumors too small to be felt. Mammograms can find more than 80 percent of breast cancers in women without symptoms.
Mammography is considered safe. It uses very small doses of radiation to create X-ray pictures of breasts.
Mammograms are sometimes a little uncomfortable but usually take only about 15 minutes for both breasts.
Many tumors are benign (not cancer). They don?t spread to other parts of the body and can be removed before they become too big. However, other tumors are life-threatening malignant cancer. They can spread and invade other tissue and organs.
Some risks are unavoidable. Breast cancer risk increases with age, a personal history of breast cancer, and, if you have a close relative with cancer, inherited mutated genes (such as BRCA1 and 2), or dense breast tissue. Only 5 percent to 15 percent of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary. Women who had early periods (before 12 years old) or late menopause (over 55) also have a higher risk.
Lifestyle and life choices also affect the risk of breast cancer. Some choices increase the lifetime exposure to estrogen and progesterone. These hormones increase the risk of developing and dying from cancer. For most women, estrogen is high during a woman?s reproductive years. Many women have more periods throughout life because they delayed childbirth until after 30 years old, did not breastfeed, or had no or few children. Other women have higher risk after taking hormones (hormone replacement therapy) to combat osteoporosis and hot flashes.
Other lifestyle issues might also increase risks. They include alcohol consumption, exposure to other toxins (such as cigarette smoke or chemicals), and obesity from overeating, unhealthy diets or lack of exercise.
Under federal law scheduled to go in effect in 2014, insurance plans will no longer be able to deny women coverage on preexisting conditions like breast cancer. Plans must cover cancer screenings and mammograms every one to two years for women over 40.
What you should do
Do thorough monthly breast self-exams. Get a health professional to examine your breasts at least every three years if you are 20 to 30 years old. Consider yearly clinical breast exams if you are 40 or over. Get mammograms every two years if you are at high risk or 50 to 74 years old. Ask your doctor if you need mammograms more often.
Get your mammograms in a medical facility that is certified and specializes in breast imaging. Continue using the same place so that your mammograms can be compared from year to year.
Understand your breast cancer risks. Find out about close relatives who had breast cancer. Think about how your lifestyle can be improved to reduce risks. Some insurance plans cover counseling and medicine for high-risk women.
Don?t put off mammograms due to fear or cost concerns. Every woman is at risk. Tumors can grow fast. There is a good chance that your insurance pays for the screening without cost-sharing (co-pay or deductible payment) as a matter of policy or in compliance with federal and state law.
See your care provider if you notice new lumps, swelling, dimpling, pain, or discharge. Get a mammogram to learn about your condition. If an abnormality is found, you might need an ultrasound, MRI image or a biopsy. Don?t panic. Act promptly.
Know where to be screened. Some places have grants, donations and funds to help patients without insurance.
For more information
See local women?s care ratings at healthcarequalitymatters.org. Visit komenmemphis.org and tbcc.org for other Tennessee information. Also see cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-risk-factors.
Better Health: Take Charge! is provided by the Healthy Memphis Common Table: www.healthymemphis.org. This article supports the care and advice of your doctor.
Article source: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jul/23/breast-cancer-screening-and-early-treatment-are/
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