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• Wisdom from Dr. White

MID-STATE HEALTH CENTER RECOGNIZES
NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Since the program began in 1985, mammography rates have more than doubled for women age 50 and older and breast cancer deaths have declined. This is exciting progress, but there are still women who do not take advantage of early detection at all and others who do not get screening mammograms and clinical breast exams at regular intervals.

• Women age 65 and older are less likely to get mammograms than younger women, even though breast cancer risk increases with age.
• Hispanic women have fewer mammograms than Caucasian women and African American women.
• Women below poverty level are less likely than women at higher incomes to have had a mammogram within the past two years.
• Mammography use has increased for all groups except American Indians and Alaska Natives.

"The key to mammography screening is that it be done routinely - once is not enough." For more information about NBCAM, please visit www.nbcam.org. For additional information, please call one of the following toll-free numbers: American Cancer Society, (800) 227-2345, National Cancer Institute (NCI), (800) 4-CANCER, Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization, (800) 221-2141.

The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies comprise the Board of Sponsors, who work together to ensure that the NBCAM message is heard by thousands of women and their families.

Links
Susan G Komen
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Foundation

The following chart is from the American Cancer Society.

Former guidelines (1997)

Updated guidelines and information (May 2003)

Explanation

Women at average risk

Mammo- graphy

Annually starting at age 40

No change from 1997 recommendation. There is a tremendous amount of additional, credible evidence of the benefit of mammography since 1997, especially regarding women in their 40s.

Women can feel confident about the benefits associated with regular screening mammography. However, mammography also has limitations: it will miss some cancers, and it sometimes leads to follow up of findings that are not cancer, including biopsies.

Clinical Breast Examination (CBE)

Every three years for women 20-39; annually for women 40 and older

CBE should be part of a woman's periodic health examination, about every three years for women in their 20s and 30s and annually for women 40 and older.

CBE is a complement to regular mammography screening and an opportunity for women and their health care providers to discuss changes in their breasts, risk factors, and early detection testing.

Breast Self- Examination (BSE)

Monthly starting at age 20

Women should report any breast change promptly to their healthcare provider.Beginning in their 20s, women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. It is acceptable for women to choose not to do BSE or to do it occasionally.

Research has shown that BSE plays a small role in detecting breast cancer compared with self awareness. However, doing BSE is one way for women to know how their breasts normally feel and to notice any changes.

Older women and women with serious health problems

Additional research is needed.

Continue annual mammography, regardless of age, as long as a woman does not have serious, chronic health problems. For women with serious health problems or short life expectancy, evaluate ongoing early detection testing.

There is a need to balance the potential benefits of ongoing screening mammography in women with limited longevity against the limitations. The survival benefit of a current mammogram may not be seen for several years.

Women known to be at increased risk

Women known to be at increased risk

Women with a family history of breast cancer should discuss guidelines with their doctors.

Women known to be at increased risk may benefit from earlier initiation of early detection testing and/or the addition of breast ultrasound or MRI.

The evidence available is only sufficient to offer general guidance. This guidance will help women and their doctors make more informed decisions about screening.

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