According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, apart from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.
One in eight women will do this develop breast cancerAccording to the organization.
Women start having mammograms every year around age 40 to help detect breast cancer.
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here is one An in-depth look at breast cancer And information about how you can be tested for this disease.
- What is breast cancer?
- What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
- What is a mammogram?
- What should I know about mammogram radiation?
- What questions should I think about before my mammogram?
- Are there any alternatives to breast cancer screening?
- At what age is breast cancer most common?
- What are the risk factors associated with breast cancer?
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. (iStock)
1. What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a disease that occurs in breast tissue when cells in the breast “change and grow out of control,” according to MedlinePlus, an online health information service produced by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
The cells that cause breast cancer usually form a tumor, which is an abnormal mass of tissue.
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Cancer cells and cancerous tumors (malignant) are dangerous because if left to spread they can disrupt organ functions and kill healthy cells.
If left untreated, it can cause serious harm or death, according to a report by Medical News Today, a medical news website owned by Healthline Media.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer Women after skin cancer, According to the National Cancer Institute.
A biopsy may be done to diagnose breast cancer. (iStock)
The final step in diagnosing breast cancer is through biopsy.
A biopsy is done after an imaging test, such as a mammogram, is done and something is seen that may be related to breast cancer.
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Breast cancer treatment usually includes chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or radiation.
2. What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The most common symptom associated with breast cancer is a new lump or mass.
If you notice a new lump or mass, it is best to get it checked immediately.
Other symptoms that may be associated with breast cancer are swelling of the breast or part of the breast, pain in the breast or nipple area, nipple retraction (when the nipple begins to turn inward), discharge from the nipple, or redness. , flaky skin.
One of the primary symptoms of breast cancer is a lump or mass. (iStock)
3. What is a mammogram?
a common breast cancer The screening method is a mammogram.
This method of screening has sparked debate among experts.
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According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, potential risks associated with mammography screening include overdiagnosis, false positives, anxiety, and radiation injury.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a mammogram is an X-ray procedure that helps doctors detect early signs of breast cancer.
The machines used to perform mammograms have plastic plates that flatten the breasts so that X-ray images can be taken and analyzed by a radiologist for abnormalities.
Mammogram results are usually reported within a few weeks of the test.
Mammograms are a common way to screen for breast cancer. (iStock)
The CDC reports that women with dense breasts are more likely to develop breast cancer. Some women have greater breast density if they are younger, pregnant or breastfeeding, using hormone replacement therapy, or have low body weight.
“Dense tissue may hide cancer,” the CDC wrote in a report, “What Does It Mean to Have Dense Breasts?”
The CDC says, “Fibrous and glandular tissue appear white on a mammogram. Possible tumors also look the same.” “Because it is hard to tell the difference between a tumor and dense breast tissue on a mammogram, a small tumor may be missed.”
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The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in disease prevention, says that women who weigh the potential benefits of mammography more than the potential harms are less likely to be screened every two years between the ages of 40 and 40. You may choose to start breast cancer screening once a year. 49 years.
The CDC says similar breast screening guidelines for women ages 40 to 49 who are “average risk” are recommended by the American Cancer Society, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Radiology, the American College of Physicians, and the American College of Physicians. have been issued. Academy of Family Physicians.
Three of the six cancer organizations above recommend annual mammograms for concerned women who are between the ages of 40 and 49, if they wish.
Women aged 50 and older are usually advised to have mammograms annually or biennially.
There is debate over what age it is recommended for women to be screened for breast cancer, but, generally, age 40 is when women can begin regular screening. (iStock)
All cancer organizations advise women Talk to a health care provider Evaluating the potential benefits and risks of having a mammogram.
4. What should I know about mammogram radiation?
One concern for those who have mammograms is the radiation involved, but many experts believe that the risks associated with breast cancer outweigh the risks associated with mammograms.
Dr. Jessica Shepherd, a Dallas-based OB/GYN who is chief medical officer at Verywell Health, a health information website, said most breast cancer cases are diagnosed after age 50, which is why mammograms are typically But it is done for those women who are close. That age.
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“The radiation doses from mammograms are quite low and pose very little risk, making them a safe diagnostic tool, and typically someone only needs a mammogram once a year. Therefore, very little radiation There is no risk of exposure,” Shepherd told Fox News Digital.
He added that “there is a small association with increased risk of breast cancer due to (mammogram) frequency over time and breast size,” but “overall this increase in risk is very small.”
Delaying a breast cancer diagnosis poses a greater risk than radiation exposure, Shepherd said.
Mammograms can be important in catching breast cancer early. (iStock)
Shepherd added, “When detected early, breast cancer is highly treatable and mammograms can be extremely beneficial in these cases.”
“If (breast cancer) is allowed to grow, the patient may have to receive more complex treatments such as surgery or chemo, which is much more aggressive than the radiation exposure from a mammogram.”
5. What questions should I think about before a mammogram?
There are some questions that a person should consider before deciding to have a mammogram.
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Dr. Kathleen Kieran Harnden, director of breast oncology at Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Annandale, Virginia, told Fox News Digital that there are three questions all women should ask themselves before requesting a mammogram consultation or appointment:
- Am I at increased risk of breast cancer?
- How can I reduce my risk of breast cancer?
- Will my mammogram be three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional (2D)?
Harden recommends 3D mammography over 2D because multiple images are taken from different angles, allowing clearer breast tissue analysis.
6. Are there any alternatives to breast cancer screening?
Other breast cancer screening methods exist for women who are not eligible or do not want to have a mammogram.
The CDC lists breast ultrasound, breast MRI clinical breast examination, and self-examination as possible screenings for breast cancer.
Ultrasounds produce pictures or sonograms using sound waves, while MRIs are computerized body scans that produce pictures using magnets.
Ultrasound is an alternative to mammogram to screen for breast cancer. (iStock)
Clinical breast examinations are conducted by a doctor or nurse. During the examination, the medical professional manually checks for abnormal lumps or other physically detectable changes in the breast tissue.
Women can check their breasts for common symptoms of breast cancer, including lumps, pain, and changes in shape.
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The CDC has published an article titled “What is breast cancer screening?” “You should report any changes to your doctor or health care provider,” it reads. Guide.
“Having a clinical breast exam or performing a breast exam yourself has not been found to reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.”
More screening options, such as nanotechnology and treatments with less radiation, are still being explored. Women who have been diagnosed and do not have breast cancer may choose to participate in various clinical trials to help find more screening options and treatment options.
It’s important to talk to your doctor about the screening method that works best for you. (iStock)
7. At what age is breast cancer most common?
CDC data shows that breast cancer incidence rates steadily increase with age, but remain low in women under 40.
Female breast cancer rates by age group: CDC
- 15 to 19: 0.2 per 100,000 women
- 20 to 24: 1.8 per 100,000 women
- 25 to 29: 10.5 per 100,000 women
- 30 to 34: 30.1 per 100,000 women
- 35 to 39: 64.8 per 100,000 women
- 40 to 44: 131.7 per 100,000 women
- 45 to 49: 201 per 100,000 women
- 50 to 54: 240.7 per 100,000 women
- 55 to 59: 273.3 per 100,000 women
- 60 to 64: 339.8 per 100,000 women
- 65 to 69: 425.2 per 100,000 women
- 70 to 74: 475.8 per 100,000 women
- 75 to 79: 466.1 per 100,000 women
- 80 to 84: 420.7 per 100,000 women
- 85+: 318.2 per 100,000 women
While not all experts agree on whether women under 40 should get mammograms, according to incidence data published by the CDC, breast cancer is diagnosed in younger women in their 20s and 30s. It is from 2019.
According to the CDC, only 9% of all breast cancer cases occur in women under the age of 45.
Risk factors start increasing with increasing age. According to the source, most breast cancers are diagnosed after the age of 50.
Since breast cancer is most commonly found in women age 40 and older, medical professionals and organizations recommend regular breast cancer screenings for middle-aged and senior women.
8. What are the risk factors associated with breast cancer?
With age, family history Another major risk factor for breast cancer.
“Having a first-degree relative with breast cancer doubles a woman’s risk,” Harden told Fox News Digital.
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Other risk factors highlighted by the CDC are reproductive history, previous treatment using radiation therapy, having dense breasts, exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), and genetic mutations.
Factors like less exercise, Being overweight, taking hormones, reproductive history and drinking alcohol are other risks associated with the disease that are within a person’s control, according to the CDC.
Courtney Moore contributed reporting.
