SSM Health: Take Control Of Your Breast Health All Year Long

From the SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton:

February 10, 2021

Breast cancer doesn’t just strike in October and that’s why it’s important to be educated and proactive with your breast health all year. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), more than 276,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

Breast cancer comes with many questions, but with few simple answers: When should I get screened for breast cancer? What is my risk of developing breast cancer? Here are some breast cancer basics.

What is my risk for breast cancer?

All women are at risk of developing breast cancer. The ACS reports that the chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer in her life is roughly one in eight.

While you can’t change some risk factors – like gender, age and family history – some lifestyle choices can increase your risk of developing breast cancer. Some contraceptive methods and post-menopausal hormone therapies have been linked to an increased risk. Drinking alcohol and being overweight or obese can also increase your risk of developing breast cancer.

Studies have suggested that breastfeeding and regular exercise – even just walking a few hours each week – may reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

When should I be screened for breast cancer?

Recommended screening guidelines are dependent on your health history and risk for developing breast cancer. Speak with your primary care provider to determine when you should start getting screening mammograms. Women of average breast cancer risk should start getting mammograms between ages 40 to 45 depending on their breast cancer risk. Regular screenings, which typically occur once a year, should continue as long as your doctor recommends.

In addition, your doctor may recommend a mammogram for the following reasons:

• Diagnosis of breast irregularities you or your doctor finds during a breast exam
• Follow-up to a previous abnormal mammogram
• Tracking the progress of lumps or irregularities

What are mammograms?

A mammogram is a non-invasive breast exam that can detect breast cancer and other breast diseases. During a mammogram, a technician will use a special machine to take X-rays of your breasts. The machine compresses the breast between two plates to provide a clearer picture of the breast tissue. A radiologist then reviews the images taken during your mammogram to identify any areas of abnormality.

If an abnormality is found, what is my next step?

Physicians consider a mammogram a “screening exam” because the test can identify masses or other abnormalities in the breasts but can’t determine if those abnormalities are cancer. When these are discovered, other tests will be run, such as diagnostic mammograms. Because many other breast conditions can cause changes to breast tissue, a lump does not always mean cancer.

I’ve heard mammograms are uncomfortable. Is that true?

While mammograms are the gold standard for breast cancer screening, they can be intimidating and uncomfortable. Here are a few ways to make your appointment quicker and more comfortable:

• For pre-menopausal women, try scheduling your appointment for the week after your menstrual cycle when your breasts are less tender.
• Reduce caffeine from your diet before your appointment.
• Try taking a pain reliever about one hour before your exam.
• Talk with your mammogram technologist. They can help talk you through the best way to position your body to get the best images in the shortest amount of time.

SSM Health is here to provide you the very best care in breast health. We make getting a mammogram easy with screenings available in convenient locations.

This press release was produced by the SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton. The views expressed are the author's own.