Breast Cancer: Early Detection Can Save Lives

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the U.S., second only to skin cancer. Early detection of breast cancer can save lives. This is why it is recommended that all women should talk to their doctor about a mammogram starting at age 40, or earlier if she has a greater than average risk for breast cancer.

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast and is the best test available to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. It can find breast cancer long before a woman notices a change in her breast.

Although there are several risk factors for breast cancer, the two most common are being female and getting older. It is important to know all women are at risk for breast cancer, but the risk of having breast cancer increases as you age. It most often occurs in women 50 and older but can occur in women of all ages.

Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast begin to divide and grow without their normal control. It is found mostly in women. Although it is rare, men can get breast cancer, too. In 2016, it is estimated that among U.S. women there will be 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer and an additional 61,000 new cases of in situ breast cancer, or cancers that have not spread. Of the in situ cases, about 83 percent will be a non-invasive breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). DCIS is when abnormal cells grow inside the milk ducts and generally do not spread to nearby tissue. Invasive breast cancer occurs when the cancerous cells grow and spread to other tissue or other parts of the body.

The 2011 Missouri County Level Study reveals that 19 percent of women age 40 and older in McDonald County have never had a mammogram. Additional data from the Missouri Cancer Registry reveals that between 2001 and 2012, 124 cases of breast cancer were diagnosed among women living in McDonald County. Of the 104 that were invasive cancers, 37 had advanced to the regional or distant (late) stage by the time of diagnosis. Of 115 Missouri counties (including St. Louis City), McDonald County was among the counties with the highest rates of regional or distant (late) cancers as a proportion of all invasive breast cancer diagnoses.

The warning signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women. The most common signs are a change in the look or feel of the breast or a change in the look or feel of the nipple, including nipple discharge. If a woman finds a new lump or changes in her breast that feel different than normal, she should see her doctor or health care provider. Although a lump or change may not be anything to worry about, it is best to have it checked by a health care professional. To locate a health care provider, ask a trusted family member or friend or call the local health department, a clinic or a nearby hospital.

Most often, deaths from breast cancer result from late-stage diagnosis. Early detection is often the key to successful treatment of breast cancer. Early detection of breast cancer occurs with a clinical breast exam and/or mammogram. All women should see their doctor to discuss which screening methods are right for them. These methods will depend on the woman’s age and risk factors but will be decided on an individual basis.

To find cancer early when it is easier to treat, it is important for all women to get screened. Women at higher risk of breast cancer may need to be screened earlier and more often than women at average risk. No matter who you are or where you live, understanding breast cancer is important. Women diagnosed with breast cancer can live full and long lives.