October is Breast Cancer Awareness month – time to talk about boobs.
One in 8 women are at risk of getting breast cancer in their lifetime and many may not be aware of it or how they can be proactive in preventing it.
Dr. Stamatia Destounis from Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Rochester said that this month gives women the opportunity to talk to each other and to provide education and awareness.
“It’s not just awareness, it’s also education because there’s a lot of fear and anxiety about having a mammogram and being diagnosed with breast cancer. And breast cancer is pretty prevalent, given the incidence of that, but it’s also very treatable,” said Destounis.
There are many different things that can affect a person’s risk of developing breast cancer but there are also preventative steps everyone can take to reduce that risk.
According to Destounis, there are many reasons why women may have skipped their annual mammogram but that a mammogram is a great step in preventative and proactive care when it comes to treating breast cancer.
“If we detect it on a mammogram, the prognosis for that woman is so much better than if she comes in feeling a lump or her doctor felt a lump, because what we find on the mammogram is a lot smaller before a woman can feel it – and that way the surgery is minimal, the treatment is minimal and the prognosis for long life is very, very good,” said Destounis.
Destounis also said that COVID may have prevented many women from scheduling their mammograms. She urges women to get mammograms scheduled and to go every year after they turn 40. She said that one out of six women that they diagnose with breast cancer is a woman in her 40s, about 20% of the cancers they identify at the Elizabeth Wende Breast Care facility.
She recommends people sit down with their primary care doctors, or with a gynecologist by the time they are 30 and discuss any possible risk for breast cancer. She recommends going for clinical exams and having a breast exam by their doctor yearly and for people to perform a self-exam, at the same time every month. Preferably after their menstrual cycles as hormones fluctuate and can affect the density of the breast tissue.
“Remember, it’s one in eight women if we live long enough,” said Destounis.
There are many risk factors that affects one’s chances of developing breast cancer through their life.
Many of the factors that put someone at high risk for breast cancer stem from genetics and family history.
Having radiation as a child or young adult, or a prior biopsy in your breast where precancerous cells were found may put you at risk. Having a personal of family history of breast cancer also puts you at a higher risk.
“There are minorities like African American women, Jewish women – there are some minorities that are at higher risk and have to consider having a screening mammogram even earlier than 40.” said Destounis.
Black women also face a higher mortality rate when it comes to breast cancer than other women, even when you line up the same type of cancer, at the same stage. There are a number of socioeconomic and health disparities that prevent black women from receiving access to proper care and have led to this higher mortality rate.
“The death rate is higher, so we definitely have to be very cognizant of minority women and not only assess them for risk, but make sure they’re coming in for their screening every year,” said Destounis.
Transitioning men and women are also at risk of breast cancer. While the risk in trans women is lower than it is in cis women, the increase in hormones can be a risk factor.
“Any individual that’s taking large doses of hormones for a prolonged period of time may be at a higher risk,” said Destounis.
Trans men often need to be cognizant of the risks as well, if they haven’t received their mastectomy yet and also have a family history of breast cancer, they still need consistent checks and screenings, Destounis said.
Other risk factors may include obesity, alcohol use, not having children, or if a woman’s menstrual cycle began at a young age and continues into her 50s. Destounis said that it is a result of your breast tissue cycling for a longer duration of time.
According to research published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR), Getting an annual mammogram screening has been proven effective in reducing breast cancer deaths in women 40 years and older with a mortality reduction of 40% possible with regular screening.
“Women should just pay attention to their breast changes and try to learn everything they can about their family history, even if they don’t know very much,” said Destounis. “Ask your family members or mothers or grandmothers and to really have a good assessment of where they are and have those conversations. You should not be afraid to ask questions and find out where the risk is. And if you don’t identify any risks, come in at 40 every year, anyway.”
Destounis said that even if you remain in good health people should continue to go in for mammograms and conduct monthly self-exams.
“This month gives us the opportunity to really educate women about what it is. Get a family member to go in with you, get your best friend to go if she hasn’t had one yet,” said Destounis.
She said that it is important to remember that everyone’s risks are different. Someone who is 30, whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40 may want to begin their screening exams ten years earlier, at 30.
When it comes to the importance of breast cancer awareness month, Destounis said, “I think it’s important for community outreach. You know, these people are talking about it, not just at where they work and where they live, but at their churches, fitness areas, wherever. It brings it to the forefront of conversation. And it gives an opportunity for people to share their stories of, ‘oh, I went in and it was just a routine, but then they found something and then I had surgery and now I’m doing fine’.”
Elizabeth Wende Breast Care has offices across New York: in Brighton, Batavia, Carthage, Geneseo, Greece, Victor, and Webster.
“So now it’s October, it’s on everybody’s mind. You know, people are advertising it on Facebook and social media. Women have access, around the corner from wherever they live to come in and have a mammogram,” said Destounis.
Elizabeth Wende Breast Care has been offering mammograms since 1975 and currently offers 3D imaging. There are also opportunities for people to receive free mammograms, even if you don’t have insurance. Destounis said that being worried how you’re going to pay for your mammogram should not prevent someone from getting one.
“Above all, go get a mammogram, yeah?” said Destounis.
For more information on free clinics go online to www.ewbc.com or call at (585) 442-2190.
Dr. Destounis completed her radiology residency at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry in 1993. She joined the Elizabeth Wende Breast Clinic and trained with Dr. Wende Logan Young, completing a breast imaging fellowship of one year. In July 1994 Dr, Destounis joined EWBC as an attending radiologist.
Dr. Destounis is a past member of the American Cancer Society Eastern Division Board of Directors and a past member of the Board of Directors of Gilda’s Club. She sits on medical advisory boards for several breast imaging technology companies and several radiology organizations and peer review journals.
Add Comment