October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a worldwide campaign to raise awareness of the devastating disease and promote early detection through screening.
Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at NYU Langone Health and the best-selling author of All in Her Head, shared with us everything you need to know about breast cancer, from symptoms to screening protocol and options of treatment.
How worried should a person be about getting breast cancer?
About one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. This means that it is so critical that women understand what their individual risk factors for breast cancer are and when they should begin breast cancer screening so that ideally, if a woman is diagnosed, she diagnosed at the earliest possible stage.
What are some risk factors for breast cancer?
There are a number of different risk factors for breast cancer, some of which are modifiable, meaning we can change them, and some of which are non-modifiable, meaning we can’t. we change them.
Some of the non-modifiable risk factors include simply getting older, being a woman, or having a family history of cancer. This last point is really important – this is your family history of cancer on your mother’s and your father’s side. And that includes any type of cancer, like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and prostate cancer.
In terms of modifiable risk factors, there are a number of things you can do to lower your risk of not only breast cancer, but other cancers as well. You can maintain a healthy weight and an active lifestyle.
Diet is also very important. Maintaining a diet that is more advanced in fruits and vegetables compared to processed meats and processed products is essential to reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
Another thing that can be very important is to reduce the consumption of alcohol. We know that even one drink a day is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer and other cancers as well.
What are some of the classic and lesser-known signs of breast cancer to watch out for?
When we think of breast cancer, we often think of a mass. But not every woman with breast cancer will present with a hardened lump.
Now, of course, if you have something you feel in your body, you should always talk to your doctor about it.
Also talk to your doctor if you have new or abnormal nipple discharge, if you have a rash on your breast that hasn’t gone away, or if you notice any new lumps or bumps in the areas—not just specifically what we think of in the breast—but even in the neck area or under the armpit.
When should women start getting mammograms?
For average-risk women, starting at age 40, you should have an annual mammogram and may need to combine it with additional imaging, such as an ultrasound. It is essential to talk to your doctor, however, about your personal risk factors and family history.
Can you tell us what happens during a mammogram?
When you have a mammogram, a special technician will walk you through the process. Your breast will be compressed between two plates in an X-ray-like machine that helps visualize the breast tissue in a variety of different formations.
These images will then be viewed by a radiologist. The hope is that you will experience very minimal discomfort. If you are concerned or experiencing pain of any kind, please speak to the technician about how we can make you more comfortable.
What about breast self-exams?
I recommend that right after your period, when your breasts are less sensitive, that you do a breast self-exam so you can understand what normal breast tissue feels like. Talk to your doctor about any concerns.
If I am diagnosed with breast cancer, what are my treatment options?
When it comes to being diagnosed with breast cancer, we have many different treatment options.
Some women have breast cancer that is limited to the breast and possibly the lymph nodes under the armpit. Some women may have what we refer to as metastatic breast cancer, which means that breast cancer cells have spread from the local area of the breast to another place in the body.
And there are different ways that we treat these different stages of breast cancer. The key is having a team of doctors, medical oncologists, surgeons and radiation oncologists to better understand the treatment plan for you. The good news is that, over the past few decades, there has been tremendous evolution, hope, and change in the landscape of how we treat breast cancer.
Elizabeth Comen, MDis a medical oncologist and associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health Perlmutter Cancer Center. She is an internationally recognized breast cancer oncologist and women’s health specialist who focuses on patient care and women’s health advocacy. Her recently published book, “All in Her Head,” reveals the legacy behind widespread gaps in women’s health care.
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