Early Detection Increases Survival Rate for Women with Breast Cancer

Thanks to early detection, the survival rate for women with breast cancer has steadily increased since the 1980s.

Early detection generally refers to mammograms, which every doctor recommends for all women aged 40 and older, and sooner for some women based on risk factors.

Detecting breast cancer at an early stage and receiving advanced treatment are the most important strategies to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer detected at an early stage, when it is small and has not spread, is easier to treat successfully. Regularly undergoing screening tests is the most reliable way to detect breast cancer at an early stage.

What is a Mammogram?

Types of Mammography

There are two types of mammograms: 2D, which takes images of the breast from the front and side, and 3D, also known as breast tomosynthesis, which provides images of breast tissue from many different angles throughout the breast. Detecting abnormalities and determining which are potentially worrisome may be easier with 3D testing. However, these tests are more costly than 2D tests.

From a medical standpoint, there is no disadvantage to having this test instead of the traditional 2D mammogram.

3D Mammography

Patients can receive 3D mammograms during their annual screening mammogram appointments. You will need a physician's order for the screening mammogram and can request the 3D at the time of service.

Here are the advantages of 3D mammography:

• Reduces the need for additional imaging when tissue is normal: Some abnormalities perceived on standard mammogram images are due to overlapping tissue shadows. 3D mammography allows one to see through the tissues, significantly reducing "false positives" that sometimes appear real on 2D images;
• Detects slightly more cancers than standard mammography alone: Studies indicate that combining 3D mammography with standard mammography detects approximately one more breast cancer per 1,000 screened women, compared to standard mammography alone. 3D mammography can detect smaller cancers earlier than 2D mammography;
• Improves breast cancer detection in dense breast tissue: 3D mammography offers advantages for breast cancer detection in individuals with dense breast tissue, as the 3D image allows physicians to see beyond areas of density;

Breast Cancer Risks and Warning Signs

While family history can play a role in a woman's overall breast cancer risk, many women with breast cancer had no family history of the disease. With being a woman being one of the leading risk factors for breast cancer, it is important for all women to follow screening recommendations.

Maintaining a healthy weight throughout life helps reduce the risk of breast cancer and other health problems. Women should also get adequate physical exercise and limit or avoid alcohol to reduce their risk.

Warning signs of breast cancer vary, but the most common include a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look and feel of the nipple, or nipple discharge.

Many healthcare providers still recommend self-exams, as they help women stay more aware of what's going on in their bodies, which could increase the chances of early detection. In the shower or lying down, move your entire breast in a circular motion from the outside to the center to check for lumps. Squeeze your nipple and check for discharge. Also, check your armpits.

One of the best ways to know your breast cancer risk is to see your doctor regularly and discuss your lifestyle, family history, and other factors. While there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, some risk factors can be modified or reduced. Since the risk of breast cancer increases with age, two risk factors we cannot control are being female and aging.

Women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have a higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer. If you have a family history of breast, ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer, talk to your doctor.

Tools Used to Assess Breast Cancer Risk

Several breast cancer risk assessment tools are available to help healthcare professionals estimate a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. These tools provide approximate, rather than precise, estimates of breast cancer risk based on different combinations of risk factors and different datasets.

Because different tools use different factors to estimate risk, they can give different risk estimates for the same woman. Two models could easily give different estimates for the same person.

Risk assessment tools that include family history from first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children) and second-degree relatives (aunts and cousins) on both sides of the family should be used. The use of one of the risk assessment tools and its results should be discussed by a woman with her healthcare provider.