Think pink by learning about breast cancer screening and prevention
Pink ribbons abound in October — we see them on food labels, t-shirts, signs announcing 5Ks, billboards, and more. These reflect initiatives that are all efforts to raise everyone’s awareness about breast cancer, a disease that affects 1 in 8 women.
As with all health conditions, doing all you can to prevent a diagnosis or to catch one as early as possible requires educating yourself, maintaining a good partnership with your primary care provider, and taking time out for critical self-care.
Some good news: If invasive breast cancer is found early and stays localized (meaning that it doesn’t spread beyond the breast), the five-year survival rate is over 99%, which is both remarkable and encouraging. It’s also heartening that, thanks to ongoing research, screening and treatment advances continue to occur.
We talk a lot about the importance of forming a trusting relationship with your primary care physician, and when it comes to breast cancer screening, they can offer important guidance about when you should get your first mammogram and how often you should be screened, based on your risk level. Your risk level and anatomical factors, like if a woman has dense breast tissue, for example, also impact the types of screening tests she receives.
About half of women have dense breast tissue, and this means that the tissue is comprised of more fibrous and glandular tissue than fatty tissue. Since these types of tissue appear white on a mammogram, it can be harder to identify breast cancer. This is why women with dense breasts are advised to get 3D mammograms, and many are advised to get additional screening, such as a breast MRI, ultrasound, or a contrast-enhanced mammogram, where the patient receives iodinated contrast dye intravenously, which allows a radiologist to see tumors more clearly. Research has also shown that the contrast-enhanced mammogram can allow three times as many invasive breast cancers in women with dense breasts to be discovered as ultrasound.
When a woman combines getting their scheduled screenings with a monthly breast self-exam, she’s doing all she can to stay on top of any breast changes, which can then be investigated.
Something empowering for women is that lifestyle choices make a difference in lowering their risk for breast cancer as well. Eating a nutrient-dense diet that’s heavy on fruits and vegetables, legumes like beans and peas, fish or poultry, whole grains, and nuts and seeds is the best choice. It’s wise to avoid ultra-processed foods (UPFs) like potato chips, cookies, and many other packaged foods, that often contain artificial coloring and flavors, as well as preservatives to prolong shelf life.
Exercise and effective stress management are things one can fit into their life that don’t have to be too disruptive or challenging — just stick to activities they enjoy and remember that even activities like gardening and walking the dog count. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise, five days per week, at least. When it comes to relieving stress, there are many helpful options to choose from, including adopting a mindfulness practice like meditation, taking a yoga class, spending time with friends and family, and getting out in nature (an easy thing for Western North Carolina residents).
If a woman smokes, it’s important that she look into a cessation program, and to refrain from drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Getting sufficient, high-quality rest is recommended as well, and going to bed at the same time each night and banishing tech from the bedroom helps with this. Unfortunately, some of the habits we develop to deal with stress are not good for us.
It’s also easy, with how busy life gets — work and family responsibilities, school, community service, and countless other obligations — to let scheduling that mammogram and other screenings slide. Don’t! It’s crucial to prioritize your health by making these important appointments and keeping them.
At Mission Hospital McDowell, we are proud to offer state-of-the-art imaging services close to home, so we can support your breast health. We are grateful that you entrust us with your care and are here all year round to provide exceptional care to our community.
Lee Higginbotham is Chief Executive Officer of Mission Hospital McDowell in Marion. He is an accomplished healthcare leader with nearly three decades of diverse experience in healthcare. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Higginbotham earned his Master of Health Care Administration (MHA) from The Medical College of Virginia and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He resides in Marion. Lee is most proud to be a husband to his best friend and father of three remarkable children.