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Breast cancer is one of the major health fears of American women. Heart disease is the number one
cause of death in older women. But breast and lung cancers are the leading cause of cancer death in
older American women. Screening for breast disease is the patient's chance at catching breast cancer
early, and therefore having a better chance at cure. There are three ways to screen for breast cancer
in older women. There are mammography, self breast exam, and doctor's breast exam. All three of these
methods should be used for the best results. Self breast exam: The majority of breast lumps are discovered by self-breast exams, making this a very important step. If you examine your breasts every month, you will get used to the way they normally feel. Thus, when there is a change, you will detect it right away. The best time to do self exams are after your period. You should do them the same time every month for the rest of your life. Most breast cancers are in older women so self breast exams only get more important as you age. Routine monthly exams could lead to an early detection and be life saving for you. To do a self exam, first look at your breast in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides. You should look for any skin changes such as dimpling or puckering, discharge from the nipples, or changes in breast shape. Move your arms up high and look for the same things. Put your hands on your hips and look for the same changes. Next, lie on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder and your right hand behind your head. Use your left hand to feel your right breast. Start from under the arm pit and feel around your breast in a small circular motion, moving in a circular direction. You should continue going around your breast in a circular direction, moving inward, until all breast tissue is felt. Examine the other breast in a similar fashion. Limit self exams to once a month because if you examine your breast more often you may not notice gradual changes. If you notice any changes or lumps, go see your doctor. Doctor breast exam: During your routine yearly exam, your doctor should examine your breasts. This should be done at least once a year. You should tell your doctor if you have noticed any changes on routine self exams. Your doctor will examine your breasts in the same way that you do self breast exams. Mammography: Mammography uses x-ray to see alterations in breast tissue. Mammography can see very small changes before these changes are felt. Because older women's breasts are less dense, this test is mostly used in women over 40. Plus, older women are more likely to get breast cancer. The current screening recommendations are that women ages 40-50 should get a mammogram every 1-2 years and every year after 50. A woman with family history of breast cancer may need to have the mammogram done more often or sooner. Besides family history, other risk factors for breast cancer are early age of first period, older age, late menopause, no pregnancies, pregnancies in later life, and obesity in an older woman. However, many women with breast cancer have no risk factors. This is why everyone needs screening. What happens if a lump is found? Your doctor will send you for imaging studies such as mammography and/or ultrasound. Ultrasound is especially used in young women. In the office, the doctor may try to place a needle in the lump to suck up some fluid to send for analysis. Or the doctor may send you for a biopsy of the lump. A biopsy is when a small amount of tissue is removed and sent to a pathologist. The pathologist looks at the tissue under the microscope to see if it is cancer. Remember: There are many causes of breast lumps that are not cancer, especially in young women. But every lumps needs to evaluated by your doctor. |
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