Breast cancer awareness comes from all kinds of sources: 5K run/walks, parades, sports team rallies, health care organization drives, even groups of friends hosting “mammogram and martini parties.”

A lot of work has gone into promoting October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but there are year-round opportunities for keeping a spotlight on breast cancer awareness.

Spreading the word about the benefits of screening makes a big difference in the fight against breast cancer. Even women who know the importance of early detection can use a reminder now and then. That’s why communities are taking steps to rally people to the cause. Large events put the issue into the media spotlight while individuals and organizations create new ways to remind women about the importance of getting screened for breast cancer.

Studies indicate that a regular reminder program saves lives. Women who have a system in place to remind them to get screened are 1.5 times more likely to have a mammogram that those who don’t.

Organizations like the American Cancer Society have developed email auto-reminders that send a message to your inbox and aldo allows you to schedule reminders for friends and loved ones.

Having a network of friends who call or email one another can be a big help in making time for a screening. Some women have taken the initiative themselves, coming up with their own creative online campaigns and using social media tools like Facebook and Twitter to get the message out to their followers and friends.

Not into the virtual social scene? Take advantage of Asheville Breast Center’s late appointments and get together with friends face to face and have a mammogram party followed by a ladies night out. Going as a group boosts motivation and eases apprehension. Parties like these make a breast screen seem less like a chore, lightens the mood and gets friends together.

Supporting friends and family means helping to keep them healthy. Encourage them to join the Asheville Breast Center community schedule their appointment through out Facebook page.  Whatever method works best for you, show support by reminding those around you to get a regular mammogram.

Additional Resources:

Mammogram Reminder

“Get Your Squeeze On!” How One Woman Is Spreading Awareness about Mammograms

Ways To Spread Cancer Awareness

[Image Credit: Voices for our Planet]

There are a lot of reasons why women say they avoid or delay getting a recommended regular mammogram. These include being too busy, misconceptions about the screening process, or even fear of a diagnosis. But regular screening provides peace of mind and may mean a better chance of surviving cancer.

 

Here are some of the main excuses women use when avoiding a mammogram, followed by some facts we hope will make it easier to make the choice to get a regular mammogram.

 

Excuse: I’m not old enough to need a mammogram

 

The American Cancer Society recommends that women 40 and older get an annual breast screen and that women in their 20s and 30s have a clinical exam every three years.

 

Excuse: I have no family history of breast cancer

 

While a family history of breast cancer does increase the chances of developing cancer, it is not the only factor and the majority of breast cancer patients have no family history of the disease.

 

Excuse: I’m too busy

 

A mammogram takes a little more than 15 to 20 minutes, and the Asheville Breast Center has three convenient  locations in Downtown Asheville, South Asheville, and Clyde to make it easier for patients to visit.

 

Excuse: Mammograms hurt

 

While there is some discomfort associated with undergoing a breast scan, the process lasts only a few minutes.

 

Excuse: If I don’t get tested, I can’t have a bad diagnosis

 

Its true that detection of breast cancer is scary, but early detection offers the best chance of treatment and surviving breast cancer, and mammograms offer the best chance of an early diagnosis.

 

Excuse: I don’t have any symptoms

 

Early detection technology like a mammogram can indicate a cancerous growth well before it is detectable by a self-exam or shows other symptoms. And that’s a good thing: it offers the best chance for treatment.

 

Excuse: I am anxious, afraid or embarrassed to get a mammogram

It is understandable to feel strange about going through a mammogram, but the staff at the Asheville Breast Center will do everything it can to make the experience as easy and comfortable as possible.

 

Excuse: I can’t afford a mammogram

 

There are several options available that provide assistance to people who cannot afford a mammogram, and a lot of information is online. Organizations like the American Cancer Society and the Susan G. Komen for the cure offer ways for women without the resources for a mammogram to get screened.

 

Mammograms can detect cancer long before symptoms are displayed and early detection of breast cancer offers the best chance for treatment and survival. No more excuses.

 

Schedule your mammogram today.

 

Additional Resources

 

Breast Cancer: 31 Myths & Truths

 

Four Excuses Women Use

 

Everyday Health : You Don’t Have a Good Reason To Avoid a Mammogram

 

Image Credit: Troy Brown

 

Are you a female? Then you should be aware of breast cancer screening options. After all, the American Cancer Society lists being a woman as the highest risk factor for developing breast cancer. While breast cancer has been found in men, women are 100 times more likely than men to develop the disease, and 1 in 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. How often you should get screened for early detection depends on how high a risk you have for breast cancer. Risk factors may be involuntary, such as genetics and age (or gender, as we saw above), or they may be voluntary, such as lifestyle choices. All of this information helps determine the risk for breast cancer and the best plan for breast cancer screening.

 

In recent years, there has been much discussion about the best age to begin mammogram screening. The American Cancer Society has set a baseline recommendation of yearly mammograms for women age 40 and older, with screenings continuing each year as long as the patient is in good health. ACS also recommends a clinical breast exam every three years for women in their 20’s and 30’s. Prior to that, self-examination is recommended.

 

But there are also risk factors that may change the type and frequency of screenings. In 2011, the ACS released guidelines that break down many of the conditions that increase a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer. They include:

 

• Aging. The risk of developing breast cancer increases as we get older

 

• Genetics. Hereditary factors are thought to cause between 5% and 10% of breast cancer cases, while women with a close family member who has had breast cancer have a higher risk of developing it themselves.

 

• Personal history of breast cancer. A woman who has had cancer in one breast is three to four times more likely to develop it in the other breast.

 

• Hormone therapy after menopause.

 

• Alcohol use. Having more than two to five drinks per day increase the chances of developing breast cancer by 50%.

 

• Obesity. Especially after menopause, obesity may raise estrogen levels in the body and increase the chances of developing breast cancer.

 

The ACS recommends that women at a high risk (defined as 20% lifetime risk as determined by a doctor) should get both a mammogram and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan every year. To see a PDF of risk factors and guidelines by the American Cancer Society, click here.

 

Schedule an appointment for your annual mammogram with Asheville Breast Center.

 

 Additional Resources:

 

Mammography Saves Lives 

 

 Breast Cancer: Early Detection

 

 Mayo Clinic: Risk Factors for Breast Cancer

 

Women who have never been screened for breast cancer are sometimes hesitant to have a mammogram performed for the first time. Some avoid the procedure out of fear, anxiety or embarrassment. But early detection through screening is the beast weapon we have in the fight against breast cancer.

Here’s how a mammogram works: A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are performed to detect any problems in a breast when no other symptoms are detected, or to diagnose a lump or other symptom.

During a mammogram, patients are asked to remove their arm from gown as that side is being imaged. The mammography technologist at Asheville Breast Center understand that this is uncomfortable for some women, and do their best to make the experience as easy as possible.

As the patient stands at the mammogram machine, each breast is placed between two plates and an image is taken at two different angles. This may be uncomfortable and even a little painful, but the procedure is completed in a matter of seconds — and the peace of mind from a breast screening is worth it.

There are several points and misconceptions that keep women from getting the recommended mammogram:

• That it is dangerous because of radiation exposure. The amount of radiation discharged during a routine mammography is actually quite low. Modern machines are highly regulated and use the lowest dose of radiation possible.

• That it is painful. As described above, the mammogram procedure can be accompanied by some discomfort or slight pain. But the process is over in less than a minute. Women who experience or are worried about pain sometimes take an over the counter pain reliever ahead of the mammogram. There are also pads that can be placed under the breast when they are compressed to lessen the pinch.

• That mammograms provide false results. Like any other preliminary diagnostic tool, mammograms may sometimes result in a false positive, indicating a problem when there is none. But followup diagnostic procedures typically clear up any false positive if no cancer is present.

• That a screening may reveal a problem. One of the biggest reasons given by women who don’t get mammograms is that they are afraid of the diagnosis. It’s true that finding evidence of cancer is frightening. But the ability to treat breast cancer is greatly improved the earlier it is discovered. As both women who have gone through screening and found nothing and those who are cancer survivors will tell you, the peace of mind that comes from breast cancer screening can overpower the fear of diagnosis.

For more information on mammography feel free to ask the experts at Asheville Breast Center.

Additional Resources:

Mammography Saves Lives

National Cancer Institute – Mammography

It is a well-known fact that women should conduct physical self-examinations on a regular basis to check for signs of breast abnormalities that could indicate cancer, but mammography technology and other early screening techniques are gaining increased attention for their ability to detect breast cancer while it is still small and before it has spread. Often, mammography, MRI and other screening options can detect cancer developing up to a few years before it would be large enough to be felt in a self-examination. That translates into less invasive treatment procedures and a greatly increased success rate.

While historically the majority of money and energy in the fight against breast cancer has targeted late-stage cancer treatments, increasingly, efforts are prioritizing early detection screening. Over the past decade, early diagnosis and treatment has resulted in a 20 percent reduction in deaths from breast cancer. The Centers for Disease Control says the most effective early detection tool women have in the fight against breast cancer is mammography.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women 40 and older have a screening mammogram annually while in good health and that women in their 20s and 30s have a clinical breast exam every three years. For women with a higher risk of breast cancer, including those who are cancer survivors, the CDC recommends more frequent visits and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) screenings.

Screening technology can detect developing breast cancer while it is still small. The most positive result of an early diagnosis is an increased chance of surviving breast cancer. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation,  early detection by screening increases the five-year survival rate to 98% and dramatically reduces the chance that cancer will return.

But, in many cases, early detection also means that treatment for cancer can be less invasive. That means less physical impact, a quicker recovery and the ability to get back to normal life with less interruption.

At Asheville Breast Center, we offer a full range of services for early breast cancer screening, including screening and diagnostic mammography as well as MRI breast scans.
Early detection can make all the difference and mean a better chance at life after breast cancer.

Additional Resources:

Can Breast Cancer Be Found Early?

What is an early detection plan?

Emerging Areas in Early Detection

Your annual mammogram screening may reveal changes or areas of concern that need to be explored a bit further. In this case, your radiologist and/or your physician may recommend one of several Diagnostic Exam procedures performed at Asheville Breast Center. Diagnostic Mammograms, Breast Ultrasound, Stereotactic Breast Biopsy and Bone Densitometry procedures gather more detailed information than standard screenings. They allow the radiologist to make a more accurate diagnosis.

No one likes to find a lump or a mass in their breast, but it does happen. So, thorough examination and diagnosis are extremely important when a problem area is discovered. There are several Diagnostic Exams that allow our radiologists and your physician a clear and precise picture of what is going on so they can recommend the right course of action. Here is a brief description of the various types of Diagnostic Exams that could be performed if deemed necessary.

Diagnostic Mammogram – This mammogram involves additional x-rays and more detailed images through magnified areas of the breast. It is commonly recommended when a symptom is discovered in your annual screening or when changes or special circumstances, such as breast implants, require more detail than a screening can provide.

Breast Ultrasound – This simple diagnostic procedure only takes a few minutes to complete and is painless for the patient. Just like an ultrasound used for pregnancy, it is used to look inside the breast at a mass to determine if the mass is solid tissue or simply a fluid-filled cyst. There are no known side effects and because it is performed on top of the skin by way of a transducer, it can help eliminate unnecessary surgical procedures easily.

Bone Densitometry – Many women over the age of 50 may develop osteoporosis or other bone health issues. Bone Densitometry is a non-invasive low energy x-ray that measures your bone mineral density in your spine, hip or forearm. Your radiologist and doctor can use the information to assess your risk of bone fracture. Risk factors that increase your need for this procedure include: kidney or thyroid disease, menopause, loss of height, diabetes, long-term steroid use, cancer therapy, family history of osteoporosis and alcohol and tobacco use.

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy – Your annual mammogram screening may unveil lesions in the breast. The word “lesion” is used to describe an area on a mammogram that appears different from the surrounding breast tissue but cannot be felt. Stereotactic Breast Biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure, which gathers a tissue sample using a special type of needle. You will lie face down on a table designed to compress your breast. Your breast will be numbed and the radiologist will collect a tissue sample of the lesion. The actual needle biopsy will be quick. The procedure does not replace mammogram and is performed only on small lesions that cannot be felt and only after your radiologist or physician deem it necessary for further examination.

Mammograms are low-dose x-ray of the breast and play an important role in early detection. Mammograms can reveal lumps and masses that cannot be felt during your monthly self-examinations. The earlier the detection, the more treatment options there are for you. You can be proactive by scheduling your annual digital mammography screening with Asheville Breast Center and making it a habit.

Asheville Breast Center uses the latest technology for Digital Mammography Screenings. These low-dose x-rays are the best tools for early detection of breast cancer. The breast is compressed for a few seconds during the 10 to 15 minute exam to allow a female registered radiologic technologist to perform top and side x-rays. A radiologist specializing in mammography then interprets the results of the x-rays and provides them to your physician. You will then be notified if further examinations are necessary. Annual mammogram screenings are recommended for all women aged 40 and over. Your physician may recommend starting your annual mammogram sooner if you display symptoms or other common risk factors.

You know your body better than anyone. Early detection is a vital key to good breast health. You can and should take an active role in early detection though self-examination and annual mammograms. While the exact cause of breast cancer is still unknown, recognizing the signs and known risk factors will greatly increase your chances of early detection. If you, or your physician, decide you need to explore things further, Asheville Breast Center is here to help you. Below are some things you should be aware of that can assist you with early detection.

You should check with your physician if you discover any of the following symptoms:

• A persistent lump or thickening of tissue
• Nipple discharge
• Breast Pain or swelling
• Skin Dimpling

Common High Risk Factors:

• A family history of breast cancer
• First pregnancy after age 30 or no pregnancies
• Menstruation before age 12
• Late onset of menopause
• Obesity
• Previous personal history of breast cancer