Augusta, GA--By Dr. Thomas Samuel
Director, MCGHealth Clinical Breast Cancer Program
Over the greater part of the last decade, breast cancer has been the second leading cause of cancer deaths in woman today (after lung cancer) and is the most common cancer among women.
In 2007, there were approximately 200,000 new cases in the United States. Approximately 40,000 people die every year from this disease. Unfortunately few women know the dangers and complications that breast cancer can cause. A recent survey by Woman’s Day magazine shows that only 53 percent of women know that getting older raises their risk of developing the disease and only 32 percent know that being overweight puts them at risk. All women are at risk of breast cancer. However the greatest risks are among women 50 and older. As early as 20, you should develop a consistent pattern of screenings and self-examinations to detect abnormal changes in the breast.
There are a number of factors that can put you at a higher risk:
Gender. Simply being a woman is the main risk factor for developing breast cancer. Men can develop breast cancer, but it is about 100 times more common among women than men.
Age. Women in their 20s and 30s should perform monthly self-examinations for any changes in breast size, redness or abnormal lumps beneath the skin. Between the ages of 40 and 49, you should decide individually with your primary care provider whether you should have annual mammograms, which can help detect 85 to 90 percent of all breast cancer. At age 50 you should consult with a primary care provider and have an annual mammogram and screenings each year as long as you are in good health.
Genetics. Your risk increases if you have a history of breast cancer in your family. About 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary. If a strong family history exists, genetic testing can be done to determine certain genetic anomalies that may increase your risk of developing the disease.
Race. Caucasian women are more likely to develop breast cancer, while African American women are more likely to die from the disease.
Body Mass. Patients who have a higher body mass index have higher fat tissue content in their body. Fat tissue is one of the tissues in the body that convert cholesterol to the female hormone estrogen, therefore higher estrogen levels put you at higher risk for developing breast cancer.
In addition to maintaining a healthy weight, by following a low-fat diet, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption all can lower your risk of developing breast cancer.
Screening exams are important because the earlier breast cancer is found and diagnosed, the better your chances are of treating it. Once you become symptomatic, tumors tend to be larger and the cancer is more likely to have already spread beyond the breast. In which case, those patients have a limited survival rate. In contrast, breast cancer found during screening exams is more likely to be smaller and still confined to the breast, affording you as much as 90-96 percent chance of being cured.
Once a patient has been diagnosed, there are four different treatment options that can be provided. Surgical treatment consists of two breast-conserving surgeries -- a lumpectomy and mastectomy. Chemotherapy is another option and is very effective in reducing the risk of the cancer returning by almost a third. Radiation therapy uses a high-energy beam to damage the DNA of cancer cells, thereby preventing them from multiplying. The fourth treatment option is hormone therapy, which eliminates cancer cells that might be left behind after initial treatment with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
If you get the facts and begin early screenings, you can increase your chances of survival. Remember, early detection can help save your life.
MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient facilities and services throughout the state. For more information, please visit mcghealth.org.
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Note: MCGHealth Breast Health Services will present a free series of Lunch and Learns each Friday in October, except October 10, from noon to 1 p.m. in the Magnolia Room of Terrace Dining on the second floor of the MCGHealth Medical Center.
October 17: Dr. Thomas Samuel, an oncologist, discusses breast cancer survivorship.
October 24: Clinical Dietitian Heather Blazier offers nutrition advice for prevention and treatment.
October 31: Psychologists Marie-Christine Rutter and Kimberly Davis will recommend ways to cope and live well with breast cancer.
Lunch will be served. Attendance is limited to 40, and reservations are required. To sign up, call 706-721-4109.