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by Susanne
J. Phillips, MSN, NP
Have you had a clinical breast exam performed by a licensed healthcare provider in the last year? If you are over 40 years of age, have you had a mammogram in the last year?
ALL Women Are At Risk
According to the American Cancer
Society, all women are at risk for breast cancer, and
the most significant risk factor is being a woman and getting
older. The American Cancer Society reports in 2001, approximately
192,200 new cases were diagnosed and estimated that 40,200
women would die from the disease. Interestingly, breast cancer
is not limited to women; approximately 1500 new cases of breast
cancer are diagnosed annually in men. Breast cancer ranks
as the second leading cause of cancer death for all women
(second to lung cancer), and is the most common cancer among
women in California, regardless of race or ethnicity.
In California, one in every eight American women will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime and over 80% of these women do not have a family history of breast cancer. Good news prevails in California, however, according to the most recent data from the American Cancer Society, breast cancer mortality in California decreased by 25% due to early diagnosis and better treatment.
In addition to gender and age, risk factors for breast cancer include early onset of menstruation and later age at menopause, childbirth later in life or never having children, and obesity. Studies have been ongoing to determine if dietary fat, alcohol consumption, birth control pills, and hormone replacement therapy are risk factors for breast cancer. Research now concludes that when taken on a daily basis for more than five years, conjugated equine estrogen plus medroxyprogesterone acetate taken on a daily basis places women at risk for invasive breast cancer.
Despite aggressive outreach with Breast Cancer Awareness Month
(October) and Race for
the Cure, in 1999, only 60% of women ages 40 and older
reported having a mammogram in the last year. Barriers to
adequate screening, diagnosis and treatment are both cultural
and economic. According to the National
Cancer Institute, the most frequently cited reason why
healthcare providers do not recommend mammogram is because
of inadequate health insurance coverage and cost. Additionally,
California Department of Health reports that women often miss
screening because they think they do not need one.
The Good News
Early detection of breast cancer leads to a 97% five-year-relative survival rate, compared to a 20% five-year-relative survival rate when breast cancer is diagnosed in late stages. Early detection includes monthly self-breast exam, a clinical breast exam performed by your licensed healthcare provider every one to three years, and after 40 years of age, a mammogram every one to two years.
In 1993, Governor Pete Wilson signed laws called the Breast Cancer Act of 1993. This Act appropriated tobacco taxes to the Breast Cancer Fund, 50% of which is allocated to the California Breast Cancer Early Detection Program for low-income women. To be eligible in California, criteria include:
- Women with income at or below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level
- Not covered by Medi-Cal, Medicare, or other health insurance or can't afford share of cost (copayment)
- Age 40 or over
- Must live in California
- For more information in California on the breast cancer
partnership in your area or to find out if you qualify
for a free mammogram, call 1-800-511-2300, 9 a.m.
to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For low-cost/no-cost breast cancer screening outside of California, contact the
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
or the American Cancer Society.
So as you contemplate your new years resolution, consider
this: The most important gift you could give to yourself
and those you love is the gift of life through early detection.
Make an appointment with your healthcare provider or contact
a clinic in your community today.
Resources:
http://cancer.gov
http://www.cancer.org
http://www.komen.org/sgk/
http://www.bcedp.org
http://acog.org
http://newscenter.cancer.gov/pressreleases/mammstatement31jan02.html
http://hhs.gov
http://cis.nci.nih.gov/fact/5_6.htm
References:
- American Cancer Society (2001). Cancer Facts and Figures. American Cancer. Atlanta, GA.
- National Cancer Institute, Mammography Backgrounder
- California Department of Health Cervices, Breast Cancer Early Detection Program: Overview and Data Summary, July 1994.
- Bernstein, L., Henderson, B.E., Hanisch, R., Sullivan-Halley, J., Ross, R.K. Physical exercise and reduced risk of breast cancer in young women. Journal of National Cancer Institute (1994); 86: 1403-1408.
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