October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every three minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. and every 13 minutes, a life is lost to this disease.

In fact, one out of every eight American women will be affected by breast cancer in their lifetime. More than 240,000 patients a year are diagnosed with breast cancer, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that there will be 40,600 breast cancer deaths next year, 400 of which will be men. African-American women experience higher death rates from breast cancer than any other racial or ethnic group.  

The statistics are startling, which is why we take the time to acknowledging this important annual health observance.

What is breast cancer and how does it happen?

Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells. It is caused by a genetic abnormality or a “mistake” in the genetic material. Ninety percent of these abnormalities happen as a result of the aging process. Only 5 to 10 percent are due to an inherited gene from a mother or father. No one really knows for certain why some women develop breast cancer and others do not, but research has identified factors that increase the probability of developing the disease.

Risk factors

• Being a woman 40 years of age and older

• Family history — If a mother, sister or daughter has developed breast cancer before menopause, you are three times more likely to develop the disease. If two or more close relatives (cousins, aunts, grandmothers) have had breast cancer, you are at increased risk. However, of diagnosed cases, 70 percent of women do not have a family history.

• Personal History — If you have already had breast cancer or benign breast disease, you are at increased risk of breast cancer. Menstruation before age 12, consumption of birth control pills, having children at age 30 or older, menopause at age 55 or older and hormone replacement therapy also will elevate risk level. Higher estrogen levels are strongly linked

with susceptibility to breast cancer.

• Lifestyle — There is a higher proportion of breast cancer among obese women. According to the American College of Physicians, women who eat a diet high in trans-fat are more likely to have breast cancer. Consuming two alcoholic beverages per day can have up to a 40 percent increase in your chances of developing breast cancer.

How to reduce your risk.

A healthy lifestyle goes a long way in helping reduce your cancer risk.

Research shows there is more breast cancer cases in overweight and obese women than in women who are not.

So, losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight is one of the first steps to take at lowering your risk. This can be achieved by eating a variety of nutritious, unprocessed food and exercising most days of the week. Limit the amount of alcoholic beverages. One 5-ounce glass of wine can have up to 140 calories.

Women who breast-feed typically have lower rates of breast cancer. So if you are able, breast-feed newborns.

Early Detection

• Ask your provider which screening tests are right for you if you are at higher risk

• Have a a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk

• Have a clinical breast exam at least every three years starting at age 20 and every year starting at age 40

• Know what is normal for your breast tissue. Notify your provider if you notice any of the following changes: lumps; hard knots or thickening inside the breast or underarm area; swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast; changes in the size or shape of the breast; dimpling or puckering of the skin; itchy, scaly sores or rashes on the nipple; pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast; nipple discharge that starts suddenly; new pain in one spot that doesn’t go away.

For breast cancer, early detection is the best protection.

If you are a woman over the age of 40 and you don’t have any of the breast changes listed above, breast surgeries, a personal or family history of breast cancer, and are not pregnant or breast-feeding, you can call the Landstuhl Radiology Department at 06371-86-7367 or 06371-86-8155 to schedule a mammogram.