Hello Everyone,
I was at my old stomping grounds yesterday The Methodist Hospital of Houston for an educational program on breast cancer. (I just love this art that is in the foyer of the hospital)
The program's panel of docs included Drs. Barbara Bass, Angel Rodriguez, Aldona Spiegel, Bin Teh, Luz Venta and Jenny Chang- three of whom were part of my treatment team. I was surprised how comforted I was to see them again. Part of me wanted to scream “I’m still alive!” The panel led an interesting and important discussion on breast cancer. I found the following especially mucho importanto!
Henda’s Law. Two years ago a woman in Dallas by the name of Henda Salmeron was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She had had a mammogram earlier, but it missed the 4 cm tumor in her breast due to the dense tissue. She never was informed of the density of her breasts. As a result, she lobbied lawmakers in Austin to approve a bill that would require institutions to provide patients with information about dense breast tissue. Basically, letting patients know that if they have dense breasts additional scans might be beneficial. Cancer and density appear white on a mammogram so detecting a tumor can be difficult. According to the American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ACRIN), 40% of all women undergoing screening mammography have dense breasts. Breasts tend to become less dense as women get older, but some women continue to have dense breast tissue throughout life. Over 50% of women under the age of 50 and one-third of women older than 50, have mammographically dense breasts.
If a tumor is missed year after year on a mammogram, it is often discovered much later when the tumor is large enough to be felt. This delayed diagnosis can take years and cancers caught at a later stage have been proven to be both less treatable and survivable. Newer breast imaging technologies have been developed and can see right through breast density. With the supplement of newer imaging tools, such as Ultrasound, MRI (which Dr. Venta described as the Bentley of all scans), or Molecular Breast Imaging (MBI), tumor detection has increased when compared to mammography in women with dense breasts. WOW! Ladies, ask your doc if you have dense breasts and if you do, request (demand) additional screening. Need I say more?? I will.
I had my first mammogram the summer of 2007 which was ‘normal’. My tumor was detected by me at the end of January 2008- then 1.5cm. I was told I had dense breasts after my diagnosis. Hmmm, Henda where were you when I needed you! I have to wonder would my cancer have been caught earlier had I been informed on the density that summer of 2007. Henda’s Law passed in the state of Texas on September 1, 2011 and will be fully implemented by January 1, 2012. In my opinion, this is empowerment at its best. And no, density does not care how large or small your breasts areJ.
Currently, a woman living in the US has a 12.15%, or a 1 in 8, lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. In the 1970s, the lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer was 1 in 11. This increase in the likelihood of being diagnosed with breast cancer is due to longer life expectancy, as well as increases in breast cancer incidence due in part to changes in reproductive patterns, menopausal hormone use, the rising prevalence of obesity, and increased detection through screening.
Factors that increase the risk for breast cancer in women:
• Age (65+, although risk increases across all ages until age 80)
• Biopsy-confirmed atypical hyperplasia
• Certain inherited genetic mutations for breast cancer (BRCA1 and/or BRCA2)
• Mammographically dense breasts
• Personal history of breast cancer
• High endogenous estrogen or testosterone levels
• High bone density (postmenopausal)
• High-dose radiation to chest
• Two first-degree relatives with breast cancer
• Alcohol consumption
• Ashkenazi Jewish heritage
• Early menarche (<12 years)
• Height (tall)
• High socioeconomic status
• Late age at first full-term pregnancy (>30 years)
• Late menopause (>55 years)
• Never breastfed a child
• No full-term pregnancies
• Obesity (postmenopausal)/adult weight gain
• One first-degree relative with breast cancer
• Personal history of endometrium, ovary, or colon cancer
• Recent and long-term use of menopausal hormone therapy containing estrogen and progestin
• Recent oral contraceptive use
Whew! Give a girl a break! MD Anderson lists suggests some ways here to reduce your risk-
And, as you know I strongly believe that lifestyle and environment play a huge role in any kind of cancer. Pick up a copy of Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber and Crazy Sexy Diet by Kris Carr.
Finally (I know this blog entry is way too long!) here are some fun things I have seen this month that support efforts to fight breast cancer.
Be Well and if you are in Pearland, visit Chickfila this weekend to see Butterfly Kisses!
