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Fear of becoming another breast cancer statistic? Then take advantage of the best tool to prevent the disease from becoming a bigger problem than necessary.
A breast x-ray, also known as mammography, is considered the best way to detect breast cancer at an early stage. But despite the benefits, regular mammograms are not common enough in many older women, according to New Jersey doctors in the field.
New Jersey 101.5 presents a three-day series on the Garden State's fight against breast cancer, featuring health professionals and brave patients. Tuesday night, we will answer your questions about breast cancer for a special event "de mairie" in studio and online.
Like other centers, the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey has not recommended women to undergo an annual mammogram from 40 years old. The biggest risk of breast cancer is age, said Dr. Deborah Toppmeyer, chief physician of the CNINJ.
Most health insurance plans are required to cover annual or biennial mammograms of women over 40 years of age.
Seventy-five percent of all breast cancers are diagnosed in women age 50 and older, said Toppmeyer. The risk of breast cancer in a 40 year old woman is about 1 in 200 if the person does not have a genetic risk.
"We always recommend annual mammograms starting at age 40, knowing that there is a higher risk of false positives," Toppmeyer said.
Too many women aged 50 and older do not undergo their annual exams, she added. This age group should "absolutely, unequivocally, pass his mammogram" on an annual basis.
According to 2015 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about two-thirds of US women over 40 have had a mammogram in the last two years.
About one-tenth of breast cancer cases are hereditary.
Dr. Andrew Pecora, director of innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health, said that a family history of the disease, or even a drug regimen, could be exacerbated when a woman should begin to consult her doctor for screenings .
"For example, if your mother had breast cancer at an earlier age, you should start screening yourself at an early age," said Pecora.
For those at higher risk, breast MRI can be used with mammography.
Although they do not and should count as an official screening, self-exams are also crucial in the fight against breast cancer. Knowing the feel and appearance of your breasts can help you detect irregularities such as bumps or pains. Survivors presented on Day 1 and Day 2 of our series began their travels against breast cancer after finding a problem by themselves.
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Contact Dino Flammia reporter at [email protected].
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