As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, I would like to take the opportunity to talk a little more about breast cancer and how it relates to family history. It has been well established that a family history of breast cancer is one factor that increases an individual’s risk for developing breast cancer themselves. It has also been well established that the earlier breast cancer is detected and treated, the better a person’s chance is of beating the disease.
If you have a relative who has battled breast cancer, it is a good idea to be screened for the disease earlier than the standard recommendation for people whose breast cancer risk is not elevated. Although men can be affected by breast cancer, the recommendations that are set forth for clinical breast exams and mammograms are directed at women because they are more commonly affected. For women with an average breast cancer risk, it is recommended that yearly mammograms and clinical breast exams begin at age 40. For women with a family history of breast cancer or another factor that elevates their breast cancer risk, it is recommended that mammograms and clinical breast eams begin arouns age twenty five.
It is also important to note that breast self exams are no longer recommended as a screening tool for breast cancer. This used to be a very popular recommendation, but a study published this year has shown that it is not as effective as other screening methods such as mammograms. That said, the Susan G. Komen foundation states that it is still important to do breast self exams regularly so that you can know what is “normal” for your body.
Fortunately, determining your breast cancer risk associated with family history does not involve going back many generations on a pedigree chart. The link between family history and breast cancer seems to be among women who are closely related. First degree relatives – your mother, sisters, or daughters, are the ones that you need to know about. It is also important to know whether any close male relatives have breast cancer, as this may also increase your risk. There is a good chance that if one of your first degree relatives has breast cancer, you will know about it. Share this information with your doctor so that he or she can help you take steps to prevent breast cancer and begin screening at the appropriate time.
Photo by clarita on morguefile.com.