Another October. Another time to think about your breasts. I am sure I hear about more breast related things since I am a plastic surgeon and did a breast fellowship. But this year it feels like I am hearing more… this year I have had 2 younger patients be diagnosed with breast cancer, a friend find out they are BRCA positive (despite a really weak family history of breast cancer), and another friend with a strong family history but BRCA negative trying to decide if / when she should do prophylactic mastectomies.
Wow. Heavy stuff.
This is your reality check time. If you are in your 40s or older, YOU NEED TO GET A MAMMOGRAM. I don’t care if work is busy, you are traveling, it is hard to get in to see your doctor, or how many kids you have with soccer practices and girl scout meetings. BREAST CANCER AFFECTS 1 in 8 WOMEN.
- You should be doing self exams. Your significant other can help. Even if you are just doing a little extra soap time in the shower, feel for lumps, bumps and changes, including up into your armpit.
- You should have a professional clinical breast exam of your breasts every 2-3 years before age 40, and every year after age 40.
- You should get a mammogram. No excuses. Just do it. Women over age 40 should get a mammogram every year. If you have implants, you need to go to a place familiar with how to do additional views.
- If you have risk factors, you should talk to your doctor about how often and how (mammogram, MRI, etc) to evaluate your breasts. Some risk factors are BRCA positive, strong family history, personal history of ovarian cancer, late menopause (after 55), no children or first child after age 35 (many of us in the Bay Area fall into this one), high density on mammogram, radiation exposure (at work, treatments for other illnesses like Hodgkins, etc).
More blogs to come. For those interested, you can see my other posts at
https://www.laurengreenbergmd.com/category/breast/breast-cancer/