Screening key to early detection of breast cancer

By Louie St. George III

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate headlines and have profound impacts on everyday life, it’s easy to lose sight of and neglect other health concerns. But now, perhaps more than ever, preventive care — such as mammogram screening — is vitally important.

The statistics are sobering. According to the American Cancer Society, women in the United States are more likely to be afflicted by breast cancer than any other cancer, excluding skin cancers. This year alone, it’s expected to kill more than 42,000 U.S. women, who have about a 13% chance of developing breast cancer sometime in their lives.

These numbers highlight the need to stay vigilant.

Essentia Health tries to make that as easy as possible for its patients. The Essentia Health Breast Program emphasizes screening and early detection. And Essentia’s breast centers, like the one in downtown Duluth, offer state-of-the-art breast-imaging services, including 3D and digital mammography, ultrasound, breast MRI and breast biopsies.

“Research shows that early detection services, such as breast cancer screening, are a proven method of increasing early diagnosis and associated medical care outcomes,” said Jennifer Dobbs, operations administrator for hematology and oncology at Essentia.

Systemwide, Essentia screens 26,000 women a year. This is critical work that aligns with the health care provider’s commitment to make a healthy difference in people’s lives. Its patients — and their loved ones — deserve peace of mind. And, if breast cancer is detected, the goal is to immediately start treating it with a customized care plan.

Essentia also features a high-risk breast cancer program for women especially vulnerable to the disease.

“The Essentia Health High-Risk Breast Cancer Program is a specialized part of the breast health program that is focused on helping patients understand their risk of developing breast cancer,” Dobbs said. “After a thorough history, examination and education session, patients and the breast health program clinician partner together to form a personalized plan of care.”

Essentia Health does everything it can to promote and facilitate early detection of breast cancer, including regular screenings. This gives women — and their loved ones — peace of mind.

Broadly, Essentia recommends annual mammograms for women between the ages of 40 and 75. After 75, patients and their care providers should determine a plan for future screening.

Specific to the high-risk program, evaluations are recommended for women with:

• Close relatives on the same side of the family who have dealt with breast cancer.

• A mother, sister or daughter who has been diagnosed with breast cancer by age 50.

• Two first-degree relatives who have had breast cancer at any age.

• A close male relative who has had breast cancer.

As well as:

• If you or a close family member have an abnormal gene that increases the risk of breast cancer.

• Anyone who has had a breast biopsy with abnormal cells, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia, atypical lobular hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ.

• If you have had radiation treatments to the chest area under the age of 30 for Hodgkin’s disease or lymphoma.

The thought of getting breast cancer is unnerving. Fortunately, there are precautions you can take to decrease your risk level. These include things like leading an active lifestyle; maintaining a healthy body weight; limiting alcohol use; refraining from smoking; limiting menopausal hormone use; and breastfeeding, if you can.

Essentia is ready to support you and believes strongly in educating and empowering patients. The more you know, the more prepared you will be to confront a breast cancer diagnosis.

“Offering a high-risk breast cancer program is part of Essentia Health’s comprehensive breast program to meet the needs of our patients,” Dobbs said.

The Essentia Health Breast Program actively participates in breast cancer-related research studies. Consequently, its patients have access to medications that aren’t yet widely available. Additionally, its breast centers are recognized by the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, for providing top-quality care to their patients. They also are recognized as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology.

Further, the Essentia Health Breast Center was a PRC “Excellence in Healthcare” award winner in 2020, receiving a five-star rating for overall quality of care. D

By Annie Lepper

The holiday giving season is well underway and with it comes with the bonanza of holiday shopping. While some people thrive for the thrill of the gift hunt, others cringe with the additional stress this time has on our wallets. Add on top of holiday gifts the increase in entertaining this time of year and heating bills, and this season can be brutal on many budgets.

How can you make the season a little merrier on your checking account? Naturally, planning in advance for the holiday season with setting money aside year-round is the most logical answer. And if it’s too late for that — well, you’ll need a game plan.

Take a page from Santa’s book for gift giving

Make a list and check it twice. Actually check it five times. List everyone you’d like to give a gift to this year. After you have your people, list what you’d like to give them. If you can’t figure out exactly what to give, try to at least whittle it down to the dollar amount you’d like to keep their gift amount around.

Pare it down the list. Do you really need to give to some of the folks on the list? Do you really need to give at