November focus is…Breast Health

November is upon us. The pink ribbons have been put away. The celebrities are speaking out on other important health topics. You might think that we can put breast health on the “back burner” for another year. My answer is a resounding “no!’.

Breast health awareness is important every day of every month. Over the course of a lifetime, one woman in nine will develop breast cancer. The risk of breast cancer increases as women age. The older we are, the more vigilant we should become.

There is a major difference between vigilance and fear, however. There are effective treatments for breast cancer that actually cure it or significantly extend the lives of those who cannot be cured. Vigilance helps to find breast cancer early, while fear makes some women procrastinate.

Just what does vigilance consist of? First and foremost, for women 40 and older, vigilance requires that we schedule regular mammograms. For a long time, the number of women using this tool was on the increase. Unfortunately that is no longer true.

Screening is especially important if we have family members that have been diagnosed with the disease. There is growing evidence that, for high risk women, an MRI may also be helpful in diagnosing breast cancer early.

Secondly, we need to be aware of changes in our bodies. Some changes are normal. Breast tissue is influenced by hormones, so the tissue changes over the course of a month. By being familiar with our own breasts, we are more likely to notice other subtle changes that indicate the need for follow up with a doctor. These symptoms include:

• A lump or swelling in the breast or surrounding tissue
• Dimpled or puckered skin
• Any discharge from the nipples
• Any redness or scaling of the nipple or other breast tissue
• Any changes in the appearance of the nipples

Generally, a mammogram will pick up breast changes before they cause other symptoms. There are exceptions, however, and taking heed of subtle changes can have a big pay-off.

New York State Department of Health has a Healthy Women’s program to help uninsured or underinsured women get the appropriate screening tests at low or no cost. For more information about this program, call Susan McNear, BSN at Ontario County Public Health 585-396-4343 or 800-299-2995.

Let’s keep breast health on the front burner this year. Our vigilance will pay off!

Always remember: prevention is power!

November 2007