BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Oct. is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos is emphasizing the importance of mammograms, which can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer, allowing for earlier treatments and increasing chances of survival.
“For breast cancer, early detection is crucial,” said Dr. Aimee Mackey, breast surgeon with CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – San Marcos. “If we’re able to detect it earlier, we can start treatment sooner and consult with our patients on the plan to help them achieve a better outcome.”
Experts said advancements in mammography now allow for detection of cancerous lumps before they are big enough to feel or cause any symptoms.
One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, and it is the second-deadliest cancer among American women, according to breastcancer. org.
For early detection, new mammogram guidelines set by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommend women start getting mammogram screenings, starting at age 40 and every two years until age 74.
Women with higher risk factors are encouraged to start screenings earlier. Risk factors include a family history of breast cancer, specifically with two or more first- or second-degree family members diagnosed with breast cancer, certain genetic syndromes that are predisposed to several cancers and increased breast density.
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breasts. During the screening, the breast is pressed in the X-ray machine and pressure is applied for a few seconds.
Recently, the Food and Drug Administration updated its regulations to require mammography facilities to notify patients about the density of their breasts.
Mackey said with dense breast tissue, it can be more difficult to detect cancer. She added that dense breast tissue is also a risk factor for breast cancer.
“If we know a patient has dense breast tissue, we can recommend some alternative screenings to ensure we’re seeing all of the images and gathering all of the information we need,” she said. “If a mammogram comes back abnormal, my team and I would go over next steps.”
She said mammograms are key to early detection and vital to the long-term prognosis.
Some signs and symptoms of breast cancer are:
• A lump in the breast or armpit
• Swelling or thickness in part of the breast
• Irritated and dimpled breast skin
• Flaky or redness of skin in the nipple or breast area
• Excessive pain the in the nipple area
• Size or shape of breast changed However, it is important to remember that most breast cancers are not symptomatic, so mammograms are vital to early detection.
