There is always more to learn about breast cancer awareness

As we recognize breast cancer awareness each October, we stop to honor those living with the disease and remember those we have lost.

Though the disease affects 1 in 8 women, preventive screenings and treatment advances contribute to the fact that if a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in its earliest, localized stages (meaning that it has remained in the breast and hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes and beyond), the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

This should give us hope, as it illustrates that breast cancer can be discovered early with the help of important screenings like mammography and breast ultrasounds, and self-care methods are important too, like performing monthly breast self-exams.

This month I’d like to share five facts about breast cancer that you may not know:

• Breast cancer can be found when it’s not apparent to you.
  • In its earliest stages, breast cancer is often undetectable, which is why mammograms are so vitally important. Women at average risk should start getting screened at age 40 and if they’re at higher risk — if a close relative, like a mother or sister was diagnosed, for example, then screening should start earlier, at age 30.
• Breast cancer doesn’t always show up as a palpable lump — appearance changes matter too.
  • Symptoms can also include skin dimpling or puckering, an inverted nipple or a nipple that has a discharge of fluid or blood (unless it’s breast milk and you’re a nursing mother), or skin changes like thickening or redness.
• Your risk for breast cancer increases if a male relative has been diagnosed.
  • This is especially true if the family member diagnosed is your father, son, or brother. Talk to your primary care provider about your full family history of breast cancer, so they can help determine your risk with all the available relevant information. This could mean you have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, which increases the chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer, and genetic testing would then be advised.
• Most breast cancers aren’t hereditary.
  • Just 5-10% of breast cancers develop due to gene defects, which means that the majority of breast cancers aren’t genetic. Rather than increasing fear in women, this information should highlight the importance of making good lifestyle choices to lower risk and to get screened regularly.
• Breast density matters.
  • Having dense breasts means that a woman has more glandular (milk-producing tissue) and fibrous breast tissue (supports and keeps tissue in place) than fatty tissue, and about 50% of women have dense breasts. This makes it more difficult for a radiologist to read a mammogram, since both dense tissue and cancers appear white (fatty tissue appears as dark).

At Blue Ridge Regional Hospital (BRRH), we are proud that we have state-of-the-art screening capabilities, including 3D contrast-enhanced mammography. This type of mammogram has the extra benefit that before the screening, you receive an IV injection of iodine-based dye, which reveal signs of cancer during the screening. This screening is used for various reasons, but it’s especially helpful for women with dense breasts because this method can identify much smaller tumors than are able to be identified with traditional mammograms. In addition, a large study found that contrast-enhanced mammography can find three times as many invasive cancers in women with dense breasts as ultrasound.

To stay on top of their breast health, women in our community should eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, limit alcohol intake, keep their weight within a normal range or lose weight if needed, and avoid tobacco (or quit smoking if they’re currently a smoker).

Next, it’s important to establish a trusting relationship with a primary care provider, who can talk to you about your individual breast cancer risk factors and make screening recommendations based on your individual circumstances.

Finally, rely on BRRH for getting screened with the most current, advanced medical technological tools. Our mammography techs and radiologists are talented, experienced, and compassionate.

As with every aspect of your health, BRRH is here for you when it comes to your breast health and receiving the care and screenings that are best for you.

Tonia W. Hale, DNP, MAOM, BSN, RN, is Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine. Hale is a proven leader with more than 32 years of progressive healthcare experience. A native of East Tennessee, she holds an associate’s degree in nursing from Walters State Community College, a baccalaureate degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee, a master’s degree in organizational management from Tusculum University, and a doctor of nursing practice degree in executive leadership from East Tennessee State University. Ms. Hale is currently a resident of Burnsville.