Q: How common is breast cancer? Are rates on the rise?
A: Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. One in every eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. After continuously increasing for over two decades, breast cancer rates have begun declining by about 2 percent per year. Some experts think this is partly because fewer women take hormones during menopause after a 2002 study showed they increase breast cancer risk.
And, there is more good news…women are also increasingly likely to survive breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer death rates have steadily decreased since 1990. Earlier screening, better treatments, and increased awareness may be why.
Q: Do most women who get breast cancer have a family history?
A: Family history is a risk factor for breast cancer. However, only 20 to 30 percent of women with breast cancer have a close relative with the condition.
If a woman has inherited a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, she is about five times more likely to develop breast cancer than a woman who does not have such a mutation.
You can’t change your genes, so if you’re concerned about cancer, focus on risk factors you can control.
Q: What are some other breast cancer risk factors?
A: Women with increased risk for breast cancer include those who:
- Have a personal history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
- Have a family history of breast cancer
- Have a previous biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ
- Had their first menstrual period before age 12
- Started menopause after age 55
- Never had children
- Had their first child after age 30
- Have a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes
- Have a first-degree relative with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, and have not had genetic testing themselves
- Had radiation therapy to the chest when they were between the ages of 10 and 30 years old
- Drink more than one alcoholic drink per day
- Became overweight after menopause or gained weight as an adult
- Have a genetic disease such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome, or Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, or have one of these syndromes in first-degree relatives
Q: At what age should women begin screening for breast cancer and with what methods?
A: When cancer is found early, there are more treatment options. That is why it is so important to maintain regular breast cancer screening appointments.
Beginning in their 20s, women should be told about the benefits and limitations of breast self-exams and how to perform them. Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to their doctor right away.
Clinical breast exams should also be a part of the regular physical check up (about every three years for women 20-39, and yearly for women 40 and older).
Digital mammography is still the gold standard for breast cancer screening. Screening mammograms should be performed every year, starting at age 40. The goal is to find cancer when it is still too small to be felt by a woman or her doctor. Finding small breast cancers early by a mammogram greatly improves a woman’s chance for successful treatment.
There are a number of technologies, such as ultrasound and MRI that, when used with mammography can enhance the effectiveness of screening and diagnosis. If a patient experiences an abnormal mammogram, magnification views and a breast ultrasound are commonly performed. All suspicious masses are biopsied for diagnosis. Biopsy removes tissue for study and helps detect cancer early, when it is most curable.
Q: How can readers contact you?
A: For more information, call 321-733-1901 or visit www.tepasbreastcenter.com.
Article courtesy of Danielle Babcock, Marketing Liaison, TEPAS Breast Center and Michael Gardner, Director of Communications, VNA Space Coast, Inc.
TEPAS Breast Center offers a unique approach to breast health before, during, and after a cancer diagnosis. As Brevard’s only comprehensive breast center, TEPAS Breast Center provides top-quality medical expertise, cutting-edge technology, helpful resources, and compassionate care. TEPAS Breast Center proudly offers digital mammography, positron emission mammography (PEM), breast ultrasound, Mammotome® ultrasound-guided biopsies, and SAVI™ brachytherapy / partial breast irradiation. We also offer a multitude of informational and supportive resources such as an American Cancer Society Resource Center, monthly support groups, on-site clinical psychologist, certified breast prosthetics fitter, and massage therapist trained in treating cancer patients.
VNA Space Coast, Inc. is a Medicare-certified home health agency providing nurses; home health aides; physical, speech, and occupational therapists; and in-home telemonitoring throughout central and southern Brevard County. The non-profit organization also provides community wellness services such as flu and pneumonia vaccinations, no-cost blood pressure/blood glucose screenings, and speakers on health-related topics for local community groups. For more information, call (321) 752-7550 or visit www.vnatc.com. (Lic. #HHA299991471) This material is for general information only. To diagnose a specific illness or disorder, consult your doctor.
