We need to talk about breast cancer: Get screened, become informed, know your options

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Most people are aware that breast cancer is a problem, but did you know that one in eight women in their lifetime will receive a breast cancer diagnosis?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Most people are aware that breast cancer is a problem, but did you know that one in eight women in their lifetime will receive a breast cancer diagnosis? PEXELS/Anna Tarazevich

By DEVORAH VESTER

For the Recorder

Published: 10-11-2024 10:03 AM

As a breast cancer survivor, patient advocate for the flat community, and board member of the nonprofit Not Putting on a Shirt, I urge women to know their personalized risk of breast cancer, get screened regularly and become informed.

Full and fair disclosure of all reconstructive options where there is a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment is necessary. Women have the right to bodily integrity and autonomy and are entitled to respect for their medical decisions. Therefore, they must be able to give informed consent to the procedure that works for them alone and comports with their personal values.

Your chances of getting breast cancer

With fall settling in, we find ourselves in the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Most people are aware that breast cancer is a problem, but did you know that one in eight women in their lifetime will receive a breast cancer diagnosis? In 2024 alone, there will have been over 300,000 new breast cancer diagnoses. It’s the most common cancer among women after skin cancer (which is far less deadly). Men can also get breast cancer, but it’s far less common. Despite recent advances in cancer treatment, roughly 30% of breast cancer patients develop metastatic disease, which is not survivable.

The statistics are sobering. That’s why it’s important to know your individual risk factors for the disease. These are: if you are over 50, if you have inherited gene mutations, your reproductive history, if you have dense breasts, if you have a family history of breast cancer, if you have a history of radiation treatment, your lifestyle factors including obesity and alcohol consumption, if you’ve had hormone treatment, and if you’ve had any chemical exposure.

Screening for breast cancer

Women at an average risk of breast cancer — that is, those without any of the above risk factors — should start getting mammograms every one or two years at age 40. Women should continue getting mammograms until at least age 75. After age 75, the decision to stop should be based on the woman’s health. Women who are at high risk of breast cancer may need to get screened more frequently, and their screening may involve other types of scans (such as MRIs). If you have known risk factors, it’s important to be proactive and speak to your doctor about your breast cancer risk, as soon as possible, so that you can develop an individualized plan for screening.

Get informed about your options

If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s important to understand what your options are for treatment of the disease. Breast cancer treatment plans vary depending on the patient’s individual circumstances, but typically include a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and/or hormone therapy. You will either choose or be assigned a specific doctor to be in charge of each of these steps in your treatment plan. It’s important to know that you have the right to seek a second opinion should you have concerns about your first doctor. Your doctor should always listen to your concerns and take into consideration your values and priorities when assisting you in making treatment decisions.

One of the areas where patient choice takes center stage is the surgical decision. The first step may be deciding on lumpectomy (just removing the cancer and leaving the rest of the breast intact) or mastectomy (removal of the entire breast). Then there is the post-mastectomy reconstruction decision. Reconstruction historically involves rebuilding the appearance of your breasts, but it can also involve reconstructing your chest wall without breasts.

There are three options: implants, autologous reconstruction (which uses your own tissue instead of an implant) and, lastly, another option that some doctors may not mention: aesthetic flat closure. If you choose not to reconstruct your breasts, you will want a smooth, flat chest wall with no extra skin — this is aesthetic flat closure. To learn more about aesthetic flat closure, go to www.notputtingonashirt.org.

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It’s also important to connect with a community of women who have a shared experience with breast cancer and its treatment. There are many such communities, both in person and online. Peer support can be an important part of both the treatment experience and survivorship. These days, one in five Americans is living with a cancer diagnosis in their past — so if this includes you, you’re in good company.

This October, take charge of your health! Get screened, become informed, and know your options.

Leyden resident Devorah Vester is secretary of the nonprofit Not Putting on a Shirt.