Breast Cancer Awareness

More than 290,560 women and men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States this year, and 43,780 people will die from the disease according to the American Cancer Society.

How Common Is Breast Cancer?

• Excluding skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the United States.
• Black women experience worse outcomes and higher death rates compared with white women. This disparity has been reported for years in the medical literature. In fact, more black women die from breast cancer than any other type of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. The medical community is aware of this disparity and research is ongoing to improve health equity. Women should not be afraid to speak up and advocate for themselves.
• Although the incidence of breast cancer is approximately 30% lower in Hispanic individuals compared to white women, invasive breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women in the United States.
• Men are impacted, too—about 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is found in a man, according to the CDC.

About Mammography

Mammography is typically used for breast cancer screening. A mammogram is a medical imaging test that detects cancer and pre-cancerous changes in the breast.

Why Is It Important to Get Screened for Breast Cancer?

• Patients’ survival rates are typically higher if breast cancer is detected early.
• Don’t fear the mammogram. After the exam, the news is usually good:
  • According to the American College of Radiologists, most women will receive a normal mammogram result.
  • Out of every 100 women who receive a screening mammogram, only 10 will be asked to return for additional mammograms or ultrasounds, and out of those 10 women, only two will be recommended to have a needle biopsy.
    

Mammography Guidelines: When to Start

• Most health agencies recommend that women 40 and over who are at average risk of developing breast cancer should receive a mammogram once every year or every two years.
• Ultimately, the decision should be made between a patient and her physician. Women should discuss their breast cancer risk with their primary care physician or gynecologist, who can advise them on when to begin screening, and how often to have screening after their first mammogram.

(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines)

Mammography Should Not Be Delayed Due to the Pandemic

• Earlier this year, data published in Cancer from the American College of Surgeons accredited cancer programs, showed that mammography experienced one of the most significant declines in screening during the early months of the pandemic (2020). Many mammography sites shut down at that time, but soon reopened.
• Today, screening is readily available. But there is still concern that many women who skipped mammography during the pandemic still need to bring their screening up to date.

For anyone who has fallen behind schedule, getting screened now could save your life.

• Although the pandemic is still going on, most screening centers have precise social distancing and screening measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID. Speak with your physician if you’re concerned about your safety. People should not wait any longer to schedule a mammography appointment due to concerns over COVID.

Why Surgeons are Concerned About Delayed Cancer Screenings 

• Surgeons play a unique role in caring for patients through their breast cancer journey—treating both women and men who are diagnosed with the disease and guiding them in the surgical decision-making process that frequently accompanies their diagnosis.
  

• If an operation is recommended as treatment for breast cancer, surgeons typically prefer to treat a patient earlier rather than later for breast cancer.
  • The operation is less aggressive and usually is shorter in duration than treating a patient with an advanced tumor.
  • Recovery time is quicker too, meaning the patient can get back out into her world sooner too, with less time off work, and less time away from family and other responsibilities.
• Surgery is frequently a treatment for breast cancer. If a patient is diagnosed with breast cancer, usually a surgeon is one of the first physicians she sees. And surgeons frequently monitor high-risk patients on an ongoing basis.