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Three years ago, I was the epitome of health. I ate right, exercised regularly, did meditation and just believed I was on a smart and healthy path for the future. There were no diseases endemic to my family. And then I contracted breast cancer.
I won’t dwell on the details of my experience, since I’ve written about it in the past. And ordinarily I don’t jump on the bandwagon for the latest cause-of-the-month. But this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I feel compelled to reach out to all the women I know, and the men who have women in their lives (although men can also experience breast cancer), to speak to the importance of regular breast exams.
There are still misunderstandings about breast cancer. First, there are all sorts of lifestyle choices that are supposed to “protect” you from breast cancer. You can lower your risk but you cannot prevent it. In fact, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. I also remember learning that most tumors are detected by women themselves. But that isn’t always the case. My surgeon assured me that even if I was checking my breasts, I would not have felt the two lumps that had emerged in my right breast, detected by the mammogram. And lumpectomies seem to be the latest rage. The two lumps I had developed were not close together, so doing a lumpectomy would have meant an ugly outcome. Finally, cancer is always a death sentence. That is Simply. Not. True.
In spite of the cure rate of breast cancer for over 4 million people, breast cancer still exists:
- It’s estimated that 310,720 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.
- 66% of all breast cancer, diagnosed at an early stage, is more easily treated.
- 44,250 women will die from breast cancer this year in the U.S.
You can lower your risk for breast cancer by practicing the following:
- Staying physically active: Exercising regularly (20 minutes every day) has been linked to lowering breast cancer risk.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Maintaining a healthy weight can help men and women limit their risk of developing breast cancer.
- Do not smoke: Smoking --even breathing secondhand smoke-- has been shown to cause a higher risk of breast cancer in women.
- Eating fruits and vegetables: Many studies have suggested that a diet high in vegetables and fruit (3.5 to 5 cups daily) and limiting red meat intake can lower the risk of breast cancer.
- Limiting alcohol intake: Alcohol has been linked with an increased risk, so choose not to drink alcohol or drink in moderation.
- Exams are key: this includes self-checking and mammograms.
Keep in mind that these steps will not prevent breast cancer, but they will increase the odds of your not contracting it.
If you haven’t gotten your annual mammogram, or the women in your life have not, please remind them of how important it is.
And that they are worth it.
Discussion (18)
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Mammography is the key to early detection, which is the key to cure. Given the 12% chance of a diagnosis in a woman’s lifetime, there is no excuse to ignore mammograms. I have seen perhaps 50 cases found by mammogram for every case found by self exam, and have only ever detected one case in 35 years by doing an office exam. So get your mammograms, lady Ricochetti.
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Thanks for speaking from your own expereince, Doctor Robert! I agree!
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My breast cancer was detected with a mammogram. I did not feel anything but then I wasn't the best at self-exam. My mammogram was delayed by COVID. I am blessed that it was Stage 1 and only had to have some radiation after the lumpectomy. Moderately healthy before detection but should have kept the extra weight off. Again not obese but too much around the middle. Do generally try to do all of Susan's recommendations plus yearly mammograms for the ladies. If I were younger I would start them early with all the stories about early cancers. Ironically, I started early on colonoscopies because my Dad had that cancer. So far so good except for the d-mn prep.
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It just makes sense to all the women. Thanks, colleenb.
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Good reminder! May God continue to heal you and help your body to kick that dang cancer's butt.
My sister is a 6 (or is it 7) year breast cancer survivor. Her cancer was NOT caught by her regular mammogram. The radiologist missed it. She palpated it herself and went back to the physician who then said that yup, they missed it. Had she gotten an enhanced mammogram (was not even offered) it may have been more readily seen by the radiologist. Typically there is more out-of-pocket expense with the enhanced mammograms. Women with higher density breast tissue (which runs in my family) can benefit as the enhanced xrays do a better detection job on such women. Overall my sister's cancer was caught early, aggressively treated with surgery and chemo. Unfortunately the chemo has now given her some heart arrthymias.
When the government threw stimulus fund money at the clinic I worked at I (as CFO) advocated spending some of it on purchasing the software to produce the enhanced mammograms. The radiology department got on board with pushing the enhanced mammograms as well. Most of our patients are medical assistance and it does not cost them any more out-of-pocket. This is a passion of mine since our family tends to have a high incidence of cancer (no genetic reason that physicians can identify).
Bottom line...regular mammograms are important but do self exams as well and if you can...get the enhanced mammograms. That is the medical CFO's opinion. Check with you own medical provider but do push a bit.
My sister is active in the Firefly Sisterhood who are a group of breast cancer survivors helping others do the same. When I went through my prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment (now 1.5 years cancer-free), I was jealous that men did not have a similar support organization.
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