Even if you have never had to confront breast cancer, you probably know someone who has.
We've all heard the data. Get regular mammograms. If you're over 40, have a mammogram every year. No one argues that routine mammography screening remains one of the most reliable methods of detecting this disease in its earliest - and most curable - stages.
But for some reason, women still tend to put off this simple and potentially lifesaving exam. One study followed 72,000 women who received mammograms at Massachusetts General Hospital between 1985 and 2002. Although Massachusetts researchers found that breast cancer survivors also had the highest rates of screening, many patients did not return for regular annual screening.
There's good news: More testing boosts survival rates. A recent National Cancer Institute report says that while the number of breast cancer diagnoses has increased, more women are surviving the disease than ever before. Cancer diagnosed at the early stages are overwhelmingly treatable; deaths from breast cancer have declined 2.3 percent since 1990, and the 5-year survival rate has improved 13 percent since the 1970s. The increase in mammography screening is credited, in part, for these improvements.
The bottom line: Regular screening can save your life Breast cancer can develop without any noticeable symptoms in its early stages. By the time a woman discovers a lump, the cancer may have spread beyond the breast into nearby lymph nodes or other areas of the body. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005, doctors will diagnose over 211,000 women with invasive breast cancer.
Caught in time, breast cancer is no longer a death sentence. But the key is early detection. The American Cancer Society recommends a once-a-year mammogram for all women age 40 and over, in addition to clinical breast exams and breast self-examination. So talk to your doctor about getting regular, life-saving mammograms. And if you feel any lumps in your breasts or notice other changes in the appearance of your breasts or nipples, see your doctor right away.
