October is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so during this month – and always – medical professionals want to remind women how important regular breast cancer screenings are to early detection and positive outcomes.
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of their lifetime, with 1 in 6 of these diagnosed in their forties. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 330,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the United States in 2021. Although the mortality rate from breast cancer had been steadily decreasing due to treatment advances and earlier detection, the National Cancer Institute predicts the pandemic will result in a long-term increase over the next decade.
The Macon County Department of Public Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) provides low-cost or free breast and cervical cancer screenings and follow up to eligible women. To be eligible you either have to be un or under-insured; be between 21 to 64; have a household income below 250% of the federal poverty guideline. However, those who are diagnosed before they have made contact with BCCCP and meet the guidelines are still eligible for assistance.
In Macon County, on average, the BCCCP program sees about 150 women come through the program every year and are able to provide them with breast and cervical cancer screenings. Though some of the health department’s services were reduced to provide our COVID-19 response, Macon County Public Health is still providing this service to all eligible people.
All women between 21 and 40 are recommended to be doing regular self-breast exams at home. The best time to give a self-breast exam is after your regular cycle and while you are in the shower. Using the pads of your three middle fingers and beginning at your collarbone, apply light, medium, and firm pressure to feel different depths of your breast tissue. Do this going down that portion of your breast, toward the nipple, taking time not to rush. Continue this around the entire breast and continue on the next one.
Sheri Fleeman, MD with Mission Hospital, shared the following information:
Delaying your screening mammogram may lead to a delayed diagnosis and increase your risk of dying from breast cancer. This is scary, but knowledge is power, and your healthcare is in your hands. Know that Mission Health is committed to serving the women of our community in a friendly and safe environment. Our goal is to find cancers early when they are small and easier to treat. So, what can you do to reduce your risk?
Get your yearly 3D Screening Mammogram:
Major health organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the Society of Breast Imaging, recommend starting yearly screening 3D mammography at age 40, as this results in the greatest reduction in breast cancer deaths, and the largest number of life years gained compared to other less frequent screening models. This advanced technology gives us a better look inside the breast, allowing us to find small cancers while calling fewer women back from their screening exam for additional images. All women age 40 and older should have a yearly 3D mammogram, regardless of their risk category and breast density. 3D Mammography is now offered at all Mission Health imaging facilities.
Know Your Risk:
All women should have a formal breast cancer risk assessment by the time they are age 30. If this assessment demonstrates that a woman falls into the high-risk category, she should begin annual screening at age 25-30, depending on individual circumstances. The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging recommend yearly screening with Breast MRI in addition to yearly mammography for high-risk women. Breast MRI is an extremely sensitive exam that uses a strong magnet to give us detailed pictures of the breast from many different angles. Contrast Enhanced Mammography, a mammogram obtained after giving intravenous contrast, is another tool that we can use as an alternative to Breast MRI.
Know Your Density:
Approximately 40% of women age 40 and older have dense breast tissue. Some cancers can hide in dense breast tissue and be difficult to see on a mammogram. For these patients, there are other screening tests that can supplement mammography and help us find early-stage breast cancers. One such test is ABUS (Automated Breast Ultrasound), which is performed in addition to yearly mammography for women who are average risk. It allows us to systematically look at the entire breast with an automated machine using sound waves. The radiologist can then scroll through these images, looking for areas that appear different from the surrounding tissue.
Know Your Normal:
Critical to a woman’s self-care is self-examination of her breasts. Women know their own bodies the best and we encourage them to be aware of how their breast tissue normally looks and feels, and to talk with their doctor if there are any new or concerning findings.
At the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Mission Health, we are always available to help patients better understand their risk and screening options. Do not put off your care – schedule a screening mammogram today.
Sheri Fleeman, MD, is co-director of breast imaging and Heather Mann, PA-C, is the Breast Imaging Physician Assistant with the Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute at Mission Health. To make your appointment at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital, call 828-883-5021.
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