TOPIC: Breast Cancer

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

After non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in the United States. Over 200,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and nearly 40,000 die from the disease. Men can get breast cancer too, but male breast cancers account for less than one percent of all cases of the disease.

WHO’S AT RISK?

Simply being a woman and getting older adds some risk for breast cancer.  Several factors can further increase risk for breast cancer, including:

• Personal history of breast cancer – A woman who has had cancer in one breast has an increased risk for developing it in her other breast.
• Family history – A woman with a mother, sister or daughter with breast cancer also has an increase risk for the disease.
• Genetic changes – Mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes may indicate that a woman is predisposed to develop breast cancer.
• Women who start menstruation at an early age (under 12 years old), have children later in life or not at all, experience late menopause, or take hormone replacement therapy may be at increased risk.
• Poor lifestyle choices – Not getting regular exercise, consuming alcohol, and being overweight can also increase risk of breast cancer.

CAN IT BE PREVENTED?

Women can lower their risk of breast cancer through:

• Regular screening –Mammograms are the only screening technique proven to reduce breast cancer mortality.  Women should talk to their health care provider about when and how to start breast cancer screening.
• Keeping a healthy weight and exercising – Making healthy food choices, avoiding alcohol, and staying active can help lower risk of breast cancer.
• Knowing family history of breast cancer – Women who have a family history of breast cancer should talk to their doctors about how they can lower their risk.

Women should talk to their health care providers about their chance of developing breast cancer and about when and how often they should be screened for breast cancer. Mammography is the best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage – an average of 1-3 years before a woman can feel the lump. Mammography may also locate cancers too small to be felt during a clinical breast examination.

THE BOTTOM LINE

• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women.
• Every woman has some risk for breast cancer.
• The incidence of breast cancer increases with age – beginning after age 40, but declining after age 75.
• Breast cancer can often be detected at an early, treatable stage through mammograms.
• With early detection, breast cancer can be effectively treated.  Follow-up radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy are often given as well.

CASE EXAMPLE

Vienna and Olivia are 25-year-old twins. Their mother died of breast cancer 3 years ago. Vienna has read about the possible genetic link to breast cancer. She suggests to Olivia that they talk to their doctor about their risk of getting breast cancer and when they should begin getting mammograms. Olivia is reluctant - she's not sure she wants to know - but does know Vienna is right. They make an appointment to go to the doctor together. Both Vienna and Olivia set up appointments for their first mammograms. Vienna’s results show a small tumor in her right breast. A biopsy and further tests show that it is malignant, but appears to be localized. Because Vienna was aware of her risk and took recommended actions, her cancer was detected at an early stage when it was most treatable.