HOUSTON – October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this year alone, more than 360,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer but there is hope: early detection is key to increase survival chances.
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Q: What are some of the risk factors for breast cancer?
A: “Patients who are older tend to be at higher risk of breast cancer. In addition to that, patients who are obese, which is defined by a body mass index of more than 30, are also at a higher risk for developing breast cancer. In terms of personal and family history, patients who have a prior history of benign breast conditions such as atypical hyperplasia, may be at higher risk of developing breast cancer,” said Dr. Clinton Yam with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
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Other risk factors for breast cancer include, according to Yam.:
- A first-degree relative with breast cancer
- BRCA gene mutation
- high exposure to estrogen (long-term use of oral contraception or hormone replacement therapy)
Q: As you get older, your risk increases. But yet, the requirement to get mammograms was dropped from 50 down to 40. What’s the reason for that?
A: “Part of the reason why mammography was not recommended in younger patients before is because the sensitivity of mammography in younger patients is actually lower because of the higher density of breast tissue. However, with newer techniques like digital mammography, the sensitivity is much improved. And now we feel that younger patients can also benefit from breast cancer screening.”
Q: In September, the FDA said that women with dense breasts should be notified. It’s now a requirement that they’re notified of the density of their breasts and encouraged to get an ultrasound. Does that mean mammography is not always a great screening technique for women with dense breasts?
A: “The importance of notifying people with dense breast tissue is to make sure that other adjunct imaging techniques can be used in conjunction with a mammogram. For example, a breast MRI would be, you know, would be a good imaging technique.”