What Young Women Should Know About Their Mother's Breast Health (Ages 40 to 60)
1. Screening mammograms can help
detect breast cancer early.
Mammography is a not
the study of prehistoric tusked mammals. It's a special type of x-ray
imaging used to create detailed images of the breast and it plays a major
role in the early detection of breast cancers. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) reports that mammography can find 85% to 90% of
breast cancers in women over 50 and can discover a lump several years
before it can be felt. And several years is a lot of years when you've got
breast cancer.
Because the risk of breast cancer increases significantly as we get older, it's recommended that all women receive yearly screening mammograms starting at 40. If a breast abnormality is detected by mammography or physical exam, additional breast imaging may be necessary. Based on the results of the additional imaging tests, a breast biopsy may be recommended.
2.
Breast self-exams and clinical breast exams should supplement mammography.
Though mammography can help detect 85%
to 90% of breast cancers, it may miss cancer in some cases. Therefore, women should
continuing practicing monthly breast self-exams and receive yearly clinical breast exams
(performed by a healthcare professional) once they reach 40 as well. It's an easy
precaution to take.
3. Women should know the
risk factors for breast cancer, including the benefits and risks of hormone replacement
therapy.
It is important that all women know the risk factors for breast cancer-age, family
history, late menstruation, delayed childbirth, diet, and alcohol intake. Menopausal and
post-menopausal women considering hormone
replacement therapy
(HRT) should discuss the benefits and risks of taking estrogen with their
physician, since HRT may increase the risk of breast cancer.
Although studies have been inconsistent, there seems to be an emerging consensus HRT does not significantly increase the risk for breast cancer. This appears to be true for women who are on estrogen less than five years or who take less than 0.625 mg per day. After five years of HRT, a woman's risk of breast cancer does increase, although the degree of risk is still uncertain. The decision to take long term hormone replacement is a tradeoff between the proven benefits of preventing osteoporosis (a debilitating bone disease) and other conditions versus the possibility of increasing the risk of breast cancer.
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Breast Health 101 was created by she she me (www.shesheme.com) and Imaginis.com. For more information contact us via email at: breasthealth101@imaginis.com