"October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please take this second-leading cancer in women seriously."
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Tracy Sackett-Foster is a Certified Physician Assistant at Mecosta Health Services in Big Rapids. She assists Family Practice Physician Thomas Wright, D.O.
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To
schedule an appointment with Tracy, please call MHS at 231-796-3200.
[Article information from the NBCAM web site.] |
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Finding Breast Cancer Early |
In 2003, approximately 211,300 new cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among American women. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women (lung cancer being the first). But early detection tests save thousands of lives each year, and greatly improves the chance for a successful treatment.
Examinations for early breast cancer detection help find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. When symptoms occur the cancer tends to be relatively larger and likely to have spread beyond the breast.
Recommendations for Women:
Age 40 and older should have a breast exam by a health professional and screening mammogram every year.
20-39 a clinical breast examination by a health professional every 3 years.
All women age 20 or older should perform a breast self-examination every month. By doing the exam regularly, you get to know how your breasts normally feel and you can more readily detect any signs or symptoms.
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Symptoms to Look for:
- Development of a lump or swelling
- Skin irritation or dimpling
- Nipple pain or retraction (turning inward)
- A discharge other than breast milk
If you have any of these symptoms, you should see your health care provider as soon as possible for evaluation. However, remember that most of the time, these breast changes are not cancer.
Combined Approach for Best Success:
Mammography Use a facility that performs at least 3 to 5 mammograms a day, and if you change facilities, bring old records to compare. Bring a list of the places, dates of mammograms, biopsies, or other breast treatments you have had before. If you do not hear from your physician within 10 days, do not assume that your mammogram was normal - confirm this by calling your doctor or the facility.
Clinical breast examination:
This should be done by a health professional, such as a physician, nurse practitioner, nurse, or physician assistant. This is a good time for the health professional
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to teach breast self-examination. If you don't already know how to examine your breasts, ask them to teach you the technique.
Breast self-examination
By regularly examining her own breasts, a woman is likely to notice any changes that occur. Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or have breast implants also need to do regular breast self-examinations.
Risk Factors For Breast Cancer
Gender (women), aging, family history (first degree relative from mother or father's side of the family), personal history of breast cancer, race (white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer), previous breast biopsy, previous breast irradiation (chest area radiation therapy as a child or young woman), early age menstruating, late age (after 50) menopause, use of oral contraceptives, not having children, estrogen replacement therapy, alcohol use, smoking, any other cancers, obesity and high-fat diets.
[The above are possible contributing factors according to research.]
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