FOCUS ON THE CURE

Healthy lifestyle choices are linked to a lower risk of some cancers and other health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and osteoporosis.

Although not all the behaviors listed below are linked to a lower risk of breast cancer, they are good for overall health.

• Be physically active (get regular exercise). • Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. (People with breast cancer who are overweight or obese should limit highcalorie foods and beverages and increase physical activity to help with weight loss.) • Eat at least 2 1/2-3 cups of vegetables and 2 cups of fruit every day. Eat a variety of vegetables and fruits. Include dark green, red and orange vegetables, as well as legumes, such as beans, lentils, peas and soy foods. • Choose 100 percent whole grain foods, such as 100 percent whole grain breads and cereals, brown rice, millet and quinoa. • Eat “good” fats (polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats). These are found in foods such as olive and canola oil, nuts and natural nut butters, avocados and olives. • Limit or avoid red meat and processed meat, such as beef, bacon and sausage. Choose chicken, fish or beans more often. • Limit or avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. Choose water or unsweetened beverages more often. • Limit or avoid highly processed foods and refined grain products, such as fast food, ready-to-heat foods, snack foods and candy. • Avoid alcohol. For those who choose to drink alcohol, limit to less than 1 drink a day for women and fewer than 2 drinks a day for men. • Quit smoking (or never start smoking).

Adapted from the American Cancer Society’s Diet and Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking [30,335,373].

• Research shows organic foods are no more nutritious or better for you than foods farmed by conventional methods. • Some people prefer to eat organic foods. However, people who eat organic meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables don’t appear to have a lower risk of breast cancer than people who don’t eat organic foods.

• Organic plants are grown without the use of conventional pesticides. Conventional fruits and vegetables may have low levels of pesticide residue. • According to the American Cancer Society, the benefits of eating fresh fruits and vegetables outweigh any health risks linked with pesticide residue. • Fruits and vegetables (both organic and conventional) are part of a healthy diet. Buying fresh (or frozen) conventional produce and thoroughly washing and rinsing before eating is always a good practice.

• Everyone can benefit from a healthy lifestyle. • Being active, eating a balanced diet and making healthy lifestyle choices can be physically and mentally rewarding at any point in life.

Getting regular screening tests (and treatment, if diagnosed) lowers the risk of dying from breast cancer. Screening tests can find breast cancer at an early stage, when the chances for survival are highest.

Learn more about breast cancer screening at https://www. komen.org/breast-cancer/screening/.

Sandra Templeton, M.D. Houston Methodist Breast Surgery Partners at Sugar Land

When life is busy, it’s easy to put everyone else’s needs before your own. But it’s important to make time for yourself — and your annual screening mammogram. If you’re not sure when to start getting mammograms or what to expect, we’re here to help.

Sandra Templeton, M.D., board-certified surgeon with Houston Methodist Breast Surgery Partners at Sugar Land, answered some common questions women have about getting mammograms.

and how often? Your doctor may recommend annual mammograms starting at age 40 if you have an average risk for breast cancer. Ask your doctor about your risk for breast cancer and the screening schedule that’s right for you.

Why should I get an annual mammogram? Getting regular mammograms makes it possible to detect breast cancers when they are small and easier to treat. It’s also helpful to be able to review your mammogram history and track any changes in the breast over time.

mammogram? It may be helpful to avoid scheduling a mammogram the week before your period, when breasts may be more tender. However, it’s important to get in for a mammogram whenever it works with your schedule.

What should I wear for my exam? Life is busy, and it’s okay if you show up as you are for your mammogram. Wearing a two-piece outfit makes it easier to remove your top for your mammogram, and it’s best to avoid wearing deodorant, powders or lotions. You’ll be offered wipes to remove deodorant, if needed.

Does my insurance cover a mammogram? Most major insurance plans cover an annual screening mammogram, but it’s important to call and verify your coverage.

The technologist will ask you some questions related to your health, including birth control, family history of breast cancer and any symptoms you may be experiencing. These questions are important to help make sure we’re doing the right type of mammogram. Next, you’ll be asked to stand in front of a 3D mammography machine, and the technologist will take two different X-ray views of each breast.

Are mammograms painful? Some women may find the breast compression to be uncomfortable or painful, but the experience is different for everyone. The compression takes about 10 seconds for each image, and our technologists are trained to listen to you and make the experience as comfortable as possible.

What is a 3D mammogram? A 3D mammogram, also called tomosynthesis, is the latest, most advanced technology to detect breast cancer with the greatest accuracy. 3D technology uses a low dose of radiation, yet allows for more targeted views that help find small cancers.

vs. diagnostic mammogram? A screening mammogram is done when you have no symptoms of breast cancer. The purpose is to find cancers in an early stage before you can feel a lump. If an irregularity on a screening mammogram is found, you may be asked to come back for further testing. A diagnostic mammogram may be ordered after a screening mammogram shows a questionable area, if you feel a lump in your breast or have other symptoms.

Who will review my images? Board-certified breast radiologists are specially trained to interpret breast mammogram results.

How will I get my results? Once reviewed by a doctor, you can view your results in the patient portal. The lead technologist will call you to share findings and schedule further testing, if needed.

a mammogram? Density refers to how much fibrous tissue is in the breast. Having high density on a mammogram makes it more difficult to see a mass. In some cases, a breast ultrasound may be ordered in addition to a mammogram for women with high breast density.

Getting called for a second mammogram doesn’t mean you have cancer. It means more information is needed to see what’s going on. When you come in for a diagnostic mammogram, a breast radiologist will meet with you to share the results and answer your questions.

Highlighting key topics in cancer surveillance, this video from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) looks at trends in the United States.

The rate of new cases of female breast cancer was 128.3 per 100,000 women per year. The death rate was 19.9 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2015–2019 cases and deaths.

Approximately 12.9 percent of women will be diagnosed with female breast cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2017–2019 data.

In 2019, there were an estimated 3,771,795 women living with female breast cancer in the United States.

Source: https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/ html/breast.html

Dr. Steve Thomas OakBend Medical Center

You are doing everything right. You always go for your scheduled mammograms. Then, out of nowhere, you get the call. “We found an abnormality on your mammogram. You’ll need to come back for further screening.” You start to sweat, your heart starts racing and you might even feel the need to cry. Slow down. Don’t panic. Did you know that, according to the American Cancer Society, one in 10 women (and men) get asked to come back for more tests, such as a repeat mammogram or ultrasound? This does not mean you have cancer. It just means a closer look is needed. This is a good thing. Healthcare professionals want to catch every little detail as early as possible.

So, take a breath, calm down and schedule your follow up tests. Call your doctor and see how quickly you can get more tests scheduled.

Know that there are lots of reasons that you may be called back in: • The pictures taken at your appointment might not have been clear or didn’t show some of your breast tissue, so they need to be retaken. • The radiologist, the doctor who reads the mammogram, may have seen something suspicious, such as calcifications or a mass (which could be a cyst or solid mass). This may be more likely for first-time mammogram patients since the radiologist does not have any past imaging for comparison. • Dense breast tissue can make it more challenging to read mammograms. If a radiologist has difficulty reading your mammogram due to dense breasts, they may call you back to undergo further testing, such as an ultrasound or an MRI.

So, now what? What is going to happen at the next appointment? Well, most likely you will get a diagnostic mammogram – meaning more pictures will be taken so that any areas of concern can be looked at more closely. Most likely, a radiologist will be on hand to advise the technologist on the detailed images that are needed. You may also get another imaging test, such as an ultrasound of the breast, which uses sound waves to make pictures of the inside of your breast in the area of concern. In some cases, you might need a breast biopsy. Even if you need a biopsy, it doesn’t mean you have cancer. Most biopsy results are not cancer, but a biopsy is the only way to find out. There are different types of breast biopsies, some of which are done using a small, hollow needle, and some that are done through a cut in the skin. The type needed depends on things like how suspicious the area looks, how big it is, where it is in the breast, other medical problems you might have and your personal preferences.

Waiting for appointments and the results of tests can be frightening, especially if you were told the results of your first mammogram weren’t normal. You might have strong emotions, such as disbelief, anxiety, fear, anger or sadness during this time. That’s okay. Most often, breast changes are not cancer and are not life-threatening. Talking with a loved one or a counselor about your feelings may help. Talking with other women who have been called back after a mammogram may help.

If you do have breast cancer, and you’re referred to a breast specialist, use these tips to make your appointment as useful as possible. Make a list of questions to ask. Take a family member or friend with you. They can serve as an extra pair of ears, take notes, help you remember things later and give you support. You might also want to take notes. If someone uses a word you don’t know, ask them to spell it and explain it. Ask the doctors or nurses to explain anything you don’t understand.

Regular mammograms can be lifesaving. All screening tests can catch breast cancer earlier in its course of development, helping you to get the treatment you need as quickly as possible.