Making Advances Against Breast Cancer
M. Michele Blackwood, MD
Encouraging News About Breast Cancer By Cynthia Burns, photos by Dan Epstein
T
he statistics are alarming. About one in eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer. And 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of the disease. Advances in diagnosis and treatment have improved the survival rate for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. M. Michele Blackwood, MD, FACS, Chief of Breast Surgery, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and Medical Director, Northern Regional Director of Breast Services for RWJBarnabas Health in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, explains why the news is encouraging.
What has changed in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer? I refer to it as a generational change that began in the 1990s. Many women who were diagnosed with breast cancer then are still alive. Advanced imaging techniques, coupled with treatments that are tailored to each patient, were developed.
How are MRIs used? We use MRIs for patients who have breast cancer or who are at high risk. We have an MRI dedicated exclusively for this use. We have been able to shorten the time it takes to perform the MRI to eight to ten minutes. It’s conveniently located adjacent to where we perform mammograms.
How do you know if you are at high risk? Family history puts a patient at a higher risk as does dense breast tissue. Some people don’t realize they’re at risk. There are several online tools to assess risk. Plug in your information and a calculation is done to assess it. The Gail Model is a risk prediction tool, and the IBIS Breast Cancer Risk Evaluation Tool is another. Women may want to discuss doing an assessment with their primary care physician.
Should men be concerned about breast cancer? About 2,000 men a year are diagnosed with breast cancer. If two female relatives have breast cancer, or there is a history of men in the family with it, there is a greater likelihood of developing it.
How has treatment improved? It is important to not over or under treat cancer. Treatment doesn’t automatically mean chemotherapy. With genomic sequencing we can drill down to different parts of the cancer. What makes it grow? How do we stop it from growing? It’s no longer a guessing game. We can treat cancer more like a chronic disease and extend life expectancy. There’s a deescalating approach to treatment, treating breast cancer with less invasive means and with more precision.
What is your recommendation for mammograms? I advise an annual one every year after age 40.
To schedule a mammogram at The Breast Center at the Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center visit rwjbh.org/mammo. 40
Suburban Essex
October 2021
