October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
About 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. That is 13% of the population. Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in women, regardless of race or ethnicity. It is no wonder why there has been so much emphasis on breast cancer screening and awareness.
What increases my chances of breast cancer?
Your risk for breast cancer is based on a number of factors. Some women get breast cancer without any risk factors.
Age: most breast cancer is diagnosed in women above the age of 50, however, it can be found in women as young as 20. The risk increases with age.
Genetics and Family history: Some families have a mutation in the gene called BRCA1 and BRCA2. These genes increase the risk of getting breast cancer and also at an earlier age. These genes are also associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer. You can get tested for these genes by a blood test. Also if you have a family member with a history of breast cancer, that also increases your risk.
Hormones: starting menstruation at an early age, 12, and having menopause later in life, after 55, increases your exposure to hormones, which can increase the risk of cancer. Estrogen is the dominant cause of breast cancer. Pregnancy actually reduces your risk- the pregnancy hormone, progesterone, balances out the effects of estrogen. Taking some birth control pills and also hormone replacement therapy after menopause has been associated with an increased risk as well.
Physical activity and obesity: not being physically active and being overweight and obese increases your risk of breast cancer. Getting good exercise and being at a healthy weight is important to prevent not only breast cancer, but many other cancers and illnesses.
Alcohol: There has been studies that show that a women’s risk of breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she consumes.
Breast Cancer Screening
Mammograms are the best screening tool for detecting breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, women at the age of 40 should already start thinking about getting screened.
Screening at the early age also depends on family history. Family or personal history of breast cancer increases the risk. If there is anyone in the family with breast cancer, then this should be told to your doctor and a decision should be made to start screening early.
Women at the ages of 45-54 years old, should get annual mammograms and women 55 years of age and older can decide to do mammograms every 2 years.
Above the age of 75, there is not much evidence for or against screening, so this should be a discussion with your doctor to see if continuing to do mammograms is right for you.
Mammograms vs Ultrasound
Many times, patients want to know why we cannot just do an ultrasound, instead of a mammogram. Ultrasound is great if there is a place where the mammogram could not tell if it is cancer or not. The ultrasound is also great since there is no radiation. But the ultrasound can’t see deep in the breast tissue, and it also depends on how experienced the technician is at looking at the breast tissue and finding abnormal tissue.
Small calcifications are seen with early breast cancer, and the mammogram is very good at picking those up, while ultrasound can miss them.
Some women with dense breasts get mammograms and then are sent to get ultrasound after, to focus on spots the mammogram could not see. Both of these tests have their pros and cons, but in combination, these tests together help find cancers before they spread.
It is important to recognize the risk factors for breast cancer and focus on screenings and prevention. Always have a discussion with your doctor to address the risks, and make a decision together about what screening options and prevention tips are right for you.
To get more information about breast cancer, symptoms, screenings, prevention and treatment, you can visit the CDC website.