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Welcome to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital!
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Welcome to Montgomery County Memorial Hospital!
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Breast Cancer Questions and Answers Because you are a women you need to know certain facts about breast cancer. First, all women are at risk for breast cancer. Breast cancer now causes more deaths among women than any other cancer except lung cancer. You also need to know that many breast cancers may be treated successfully. But the chances for success in treatment are highest when cancers are found early. Who is at risk for developing breast cancer? Every woman is at risk for breast cancer, and her risk increases with age. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. More than three-quarters of all breast cancers occur in women over 50. A woman of 70 is almost twice as likely to develop breast cancer in the next year as a woman of 50. Burt aren't there women with special risks? Yes. Risk is higher in women with a personal history or whose close female relatives - their mothers or sisters - have had the disease, especially if the relatives was diagnosed before menopause. Four out of five women who develop breast cancer, however, how no family history of the disease. What can be done to protect against breast cancer? Since we don't yet know what causes breast cancer or how to prevent it, the best protection is to detect it as early as possible and treat it promptly. Researchers are also investigating the possible roles of heredity, environment, lifestyle, and diet. What does the American Cancer Society recommend for early detection of the breast cancer? The American Cancer Society and some of the nations leading health organizations recommend this three-step early detection program: 1) Have regular mammograms. Annual mammograms should begin at age 40. Medicare covers mammograms according to your age and your risk. 2) See your doctor for regular breast exams. This means at least every three years from age 20 to 39 and every year beginning at age 40. 3) Practice monthly breast self-exam. Ask your health care provider to teach you the proper way to do a thorough breast self-exam. Contact your American Cancer Society for more information on early detection methods. These guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer are for women who have no symptoms. They are designed to find breast cancer at the earliest stages when there is the best opportunity to treat it successfully. What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer? Symptoms of breast changes to be aware of include any lump, thickening, swelling, dimpling, skin irritation, distortion, retraction of the nipple, scaliness, or pain. A mammogram can pick up changes in the breast that might signal cancer long before it can be felt. Remember - most lumps are not cancerous, but, to be sure, see your doctor even if you've had a mammogram recently. What is a mammogram? A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast taken with a special machine that uses a small amount of radiation. A specially trained technologist positions your breast between two plastic plates. For a few seconds, pressure is applied to flatten the breast and a get a good, clear picture Two pictures are usually taken of each breast. Some women report a little discomfort, but it only lasts a few seconds, and firm compression is an important part of a quality exam. The entire mammography exam takes about 15 minutes. A specialist, called a radiologist, will read the mammogram to see if there are any suspicious areas. How can you be sure to get a mammogram that's safe and of high quality? Ask to see the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certificate that is issued to all facilities that meet high professional standards of safety and quality. Ask your local American Cancer Society office, or call 1-800-ACS-2345, to find out where you can go for a safe, accurate mammogram. What if breast cancer is found? A woman diagnosed with breast cancer should thoroughly review her treatment options with her doctor before making a decision about therapy. She has the most treatment options and the best chance for long-term survival when the breast cancer is found early. Treatment for early breast cancer can include lumpectomy (limited surgery which removes the cancer but not the entire breast). Additional treatments may include chemotherapy or hormone therapy. Breast reconstruction may be an option after mastectomy. What are the changes of surviving breast cancer? Survival depends on the stage of breast cancer at diagnosis. Eighty-six out of every 100 women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive at least five years. Survival is much better if the disease has not spread, and the prognosis is poorer if the disease has spread by the time it is diagnosed. This is why early detection is so important. Guidelines for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer Mammography The American Cancer Societies most important recommendation about mammography is: Women age 40 and over should get annual mammograms. The scientific evidence is clear: more lives will be saved if women age 40 and older get mammograms every year. You should talk with your doctor about beginning a program of regular mammograms. If you are 40 or over and are already getting regular mammograms, make sure you get one every year. The bottom line is this: regular mammograms save lives. Mammography is safe and effective. It's the best way to find breast cancer early, when it's most treatable. That's why the American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and over get a mammogram every year. Clinical Breast Examination The American Cancer Society recommends that you get a clinical breast examination (CBE) by a doctor or nurse every year if you are 40 or over. For best results, the CBE should be done close to the time of your mammogram. If you are between 20 and 39, you should get a CBE every 3 years. Breast Self-Examination All women 20 and over should perform breast self-examanation (BSE) every month. If you have questions about the correct way to perform BSE, ask your doctor or nurse or contact the American Cancer Society. By examining your breasts regularly, you and your doctor can be aware of changes in your breasts that are not normal. Most lumps are not cancer, but all lumps should be checked out by a doctor. If you notice a change in your breast, call your doctor immediately. Even after you begin having regular mammograms, CBE and BSE are still important because mammography may miss a small number of cancers. Regular screening for breast cancer is an important part of your health plan. American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer: Age 40 and over:
Age 29-39:
If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, discuss mammography screening guidelines and scheduling with your health care provider. If you are concerned about breast cancer, call us toll free anytime at 1-800-ACS-2345 and let us connect you with a breast cancer survivor. The most important Part of Your Action Plan... ...Is having regular mammograms. These simple breast x-rays are quick, easy, and safe. In fact, mammograms use less radiation than a dentist's x-ray. And a mammogram can give you a big head start on treatment. You and your doctor may not feel a lump until it is the size of a pea. But a mammogram can find cancers when they are very small, often several years before a lump or change can be felt. The American Cancer Society advises you to have yearly mammograms beginning at age 40. As you grow older, your chances of having breast cancer will increase. Almost half of all breast cancer occurs in women 65 and older: more than three0quarters of them occur in women 50 and older. For guidelines on getting an accurate, high-quality mammogram, call this toll-free number: 1-800-ACS-2345. You'll Need... ...To see your health care provider for a clinical breast exam. All women over age 20 should have a clinical breast exam once every three years. After the age of 40, have your breasts examined every year. What Makes A Good CBE? Every clinical breast exam should include: Positioning - looking at your breasts while you are sitting and lying down, with your arms by your sides and then above your head. Perimeter - examining the entire breast, up to the neck, out into the armpit, in toward the sternum and below to the rib cage. Pattern - systematically examining the breast in a vertical strip, circular, or wedge pattern. Palpation - feeling the breast using a circular motion with the finger pads Pressure - using different levels of pressure (light, medium, and firm) Planning - discussing your breast health plan, and showing you the proper way to examine your own breasts. A through clinical breast exam can take up to 10 minutes. Talk to your doctor if you feel that your exam was incomplete or rushed. The Third Part of Your Plan... ...Will be regular, thorough breast self-exams. Starting at the age of 20, all women should check their breasts for lumps, thickness, or other changes every month. By examining your breasts on a regular basis, you will know how your breasts normally feel. If a change should occur in your breasts, you will be able to identify it quickly, and call it to the attention of your doctor. You should ask your health care provider to show you how to do the exam correctly. As a reminder, you should check each breast all over and include the armpit. Use your finger pads and move them in an up and down, circular or an in-and-out wedge motion to feel your breasts. you should also look at your breasts in a mirror. Check for any changes in how your breasts look or for dimpling of the skin. Plan to examine your breasts at the same time every month. It won't take long. And you'll know you've done your part until your next doctor's exam and mammogram. If you think you have found a lump or change, see your doctor. Most breast lumps are not cancer, but you won't know if you didn't ask. Your Chances Are Excellent... ...If you begin your action paln now. We don't know how to prevent breast cancer. But we do know how to find it early, when the chance for successful treatment is greastest. Put your plan into action right away. Then you can spend your life enjoying your health. |
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