How do I manage my breast health?
Did you know that the average risk for a woman in the United States developing breast cancer is about 13%?
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS) this means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer, however there is a 7 in 8 chance or 87% that a woman will not develop breast cancer.
So, let’s talk about how we can navigate our breast health, well.
There are three ways to detect changes in your breast.
Breast self-exam
Clinical breast exam
Mammography
The National Institutes of Health tell us that 25% of women survivors detected the breast cancer themselves and 18% detected the breast cancer by accident. The American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists report that 71% of women younger than 50 years of age detected breast cancer via a breast self-exam and 50% of women 50 years and older.
As you can see, it is important to know your body and do a breast self-exam on a monthly basis. Set a reminder on your smart phone and call it “Feel It On The First.” This will remind you to check your breast just like you change the batteries in your smoke detector. (You do change your batteries, right?) Consistency will help you determine if there are changes in your breast tissue. This is especially important for women younger than 40 years of age. If you feel a change in your breast tissue, call your healthcare provider to schedule a clinical breast exam.
A clinical breast exam is recommended by the ACS every one to three years starting at the age of 20 and every year for women 40 years and older. There are five warning signs that require a clinical breast exam.
New lump in the breast or armpit.
Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
Irritation or dimpling within the breast skin.
Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area of the breast.
Pulling in the area of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
If you have any of these symptoms, it is recommended, by the ACS, to have a clinical breast exam by your healthcare provider.
Mammography Screenings are determined by the Standard of Care Committee and the United States Preventive Services Task Force. (USPSTF)
The standard and/or guidelines for women to begin their mammograms is age 40. June 2023, the USPSTF reduced the age from 50 to 40. They based the change on new scientific evidence that revealed the rate of breast cancer for women ages 40-49 had an increase of 2% from 2015 to 2019. Unfortunately, the USPSTF also recommends a mammogram every two years. There is an on-going debate to change the recommendation to an annual mammogram.
My personal preference is annually because through my work with other women with breast cancer, an annual mammogram is necessary. However, you must be your own advocate and talk with your healthcare provider to determine when and how often you should get your mammogram.
Do you know which mammogram you are getting? When you arrive at the breast center, there should be a label on your paperwork, and it will say 2D or 3D.
A 2D screening is a two-dimensional picture of the breast. There will be two angles of pictures: top to bottom and side to side. This screening is for those individuals who are unable to stand in one place for 10-15 minutes.
A 3D screening or Digital Tomosynthesis, was approved by the FDA in 2011. This mammogram provides several pictures, showing each layer of the breast tissue. The 3D provides top to bottom, side to side, and an arcing over the breast. The 3D is more effective because it provides the radiologist more pictures to view to determine if there is an area of concern.
Diagnostic Mammogram is scheduled if the radiologist sees an area of concern with your screening. This is also a 3D mammogram but will include several more pictures to determine if the area is dense breast tissue or cancer.
I hope you have found this information helpful and if you would like to receive my blog on a regular basis, please click the subscribe button below. Feel free to share this information with others and invite them to join us on this journey to better breast health!
Your Breast Friend,
Edie