Breast Cancer Prevention and Detection by Bindupriya Chandrasekaran
O
ctober is National The National Center for Breast Cancer AwareHealth Statistics reports slightly ness Month. Learn the more than 20 percent of people symptoms of breast cancer. over the age of 18 visit their Listen to the body. Advocate primary physician within three for our health when we have a months of the onset of a new concern. health symptom. The number For many of us, the pandemic declines for those over 65. Rehas turned our lives upsidesponding quickly to new sympdown. We have learned to be toms is especially important for flexible as we’ve adapted to detecting and preventing breast Bindupriya new work, home and personal cancer, the most commonly Chandrasekaran rhythms. The chances are that diagnosed form of cancer in our personal health needs have fallen low American women. When detected early on our to-do list. If we have ignored conbefore it has spread, breast cancer has a 99 cerning symptoms such a lingering rash or percent five-year survival rate. unusual swelling, many of us are delaying Women often think a lump is the singuseeing a physician about a change in health. lar sign of breast cancer, but there is more Men that can get breast cancer. In fact, men than one type, including some that present that develop breast cancer typically present unique symptoms. Others include a change with more advanced disease than women. in breast size or shape, nipple or skin
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changes and abnormal nipple discharge. A less common, but highly aggressive form of breast cancer – inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) – often doesn’t produce a well-defined lump. The primary symptom of IBC is persistent redness and swelling in and around the breast. Dimpled skin resembling orange peel may also appear. Beginning in their 20s, women should check their breasts monthly for lumps or unusual changes. Many are benign or less serious, but it needs to be checked by a physician. Helpful questions to prepare before seeing a doctor include what may have caused the symptom or lump; what next steps or tests are needed; and if they will refer to a physician specializing in breast health. Regular breast self-exams are important, but preventative, proactive screenings such as clinical breast exams and mammogram are the most effective in detecting cancer early. There is a group of high-risk patients that will benefit from additional screening such as thermography or MRI, along with screening mammogram. COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects that may impact the interpretation of results from mammograms. Texas Oncology recommends completing upcoming imaging before getting the vaccine or wait six weeks after the second COVID-19 vaccine dose. Patients needing imaging during this time should discuss with their provider ordering the imaging before proceeding. Bindupriya Chandrasekaran M.D., MRCS is a breast surgical oncologist at Texas Breast Specialists–Methodist Cancer Centers in Dallas, Texas. For more information, visit TexasBreastSpecialists.com.
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