Knowledge is Power: Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a good opportunity to learn more about breast cancer, understand your personal risk and make sure you are staying up to date with recommended screenings.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the United States. While we cannot prevent every breast cancer, there are steps you can take to better understand your risk and help find breast cancer early, when treatment is often more successful.
Education is an ongoing opportunity for all of us. The more we know about our health, the better prepared we are to take an active role in our care.
Know the Signs of Breast Cancer
A new lump or mass is the most common symptom of breast cancer. While a breast cancer lump is often hard and painless, breast cancer can also feel soft, round, tender or painful. Most breast lumps are not cancer, but any new lump or breast change should be checked by your healthcare provider.
Other changes to watch for include:
- Swelling of all or part of the breast, even when you cannot feel a lump
- Changes in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling or changes in the skin of the breast
- Nipple or breast pain
- A nipple that turns inward
- Red, dry, flaking or thickened skin on the nipple or breast
- Nipple discharge or drainage
- A lump or swelling under the arm or near the collarbone
While mammograms play an important role in early detection, some breast cancers may not be visible on a mammogram. That’s why it is also important to know how your breasts normally look and feel and to tell your healthcare provider about any changes.
Be Proactive About Screening
Early detection means finding breast cancer before symptoms develop. Regular mammograms can often find breast cancer when it is small and before it can be felt.
The American Cancer Society currently recommends the following screening schedule for women at average risk:
Ages 40–44: You have the option to begin having a mammogram every year.
Ages 45–54: Have a mammogram every year.
Age 55 and older: You may switch to a mammogram every two years or choose to continue yearly mammograms.
Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.
These guidelines are for women at average risk. Women at higher risk because of family history, certain genetic changes, previous radiation treatment or other factors may need a different screening schedule. Some women at high risk may also need an MRI in addition to a mammogram.
There isn’t one screening plan that’s right for every woman. Talk with your healthcare provider about your personal risk and when and how often breast cancer screening is right for you.
Understanding Your Risk
Simply having a risk factor does not mean you will develop breast cancer. Some women who develop breast cancer have few known risk factors, while others who have several risk factors never develop the disease.
Knowing your personal and family health history, however, can help you and your healthcare provider make informed decisions about screening and your health.
Some factors associated with an increased risk of breast cancer include:
Age
Risk increases as we get older. In fact, increasing age is one of the most important risk factors for breast cancer.
Personal and family history
Having had breast cancer or certain breast conditions can increase your risk. Having a mother, sister or daughter who has had breast cancer can also increase your risk. Be sure to share as much of your family’s cancer history as possible with your healthcare provider.
Inherited genetic changes
Some people inherit changes in genes that increase their risk of developing breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are perhaps the best known, but other genes have also been associated with increased breast cancer risk. If you have a strong family history of breast or certain other cancers, your healthcare provider may recommend genetic counseling or testing.
Breast density
Having dense breast tissue can increase breast cancer risk and can also make it more difficult to see cancer on a mammogram. Talk with your healthcare provider about what your mammogram results mean for you.
Reproductive and hormonal history
Starting menstruation at an early age, experiencing menopause later in life and being older at the time of a first full-term pregnancy are among the factors associated with increased risk. Certain types of menopausal hormone therapy, particularly combined estrogen and progestin therapy, can also increase breast cancer risk.
Can You Lower Your Risk?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, and many risk factors — including age, genetics and family history — are beyond our control.
There are, however, healthy lifestyle choices that may help lower risk. Staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight — particularly after menopause — and limiting alcohol are among the steps associated with lower breast cancer risk.
Most importantly, know your own risk and don’t put off conversations about screening.
Your healthcare provider can help you consider your age, overall health, family and personal history and other risk factors to determine a screening plan that makes sense for you.
Knowledge is Power
Taking an active role in your health doesn’t have to be complicated. Know your family history. Pay attention to changes in your body. Keep up with recommended health appointments. And don’t hesitate to ask questions.
When it comes to breast cancer, knowing your risk and finding cancer early can make an important difference.
Learn More
For additional information about breast cancer, screening and risk, visit:
American Cancer Society — Breast Cancer
National Cancer Institute — Breast Cancer
Resources
The web seems to have limitless numbers of resources these days. We’ve pulled together a small list of online sites with valuable tools and information.
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org 1-800-227-2345
Cancer.Net
www.cancer.net
Patient information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov 1-800-422-6237
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
www.nccn.org 1-888-909-6226
BreastCancer.org
www.breastcancer.org
Breastcancer.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most reliable, complete, and up-to-date information about BreastCancer.
