JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
The National Cancer Institute estimates more than 39,000 women and more than 2,000 men have already died from breast cancer in the United States in 2013 and more than 234,000 new cases have been reported, statistics that underscore the necessity of early detection of the deadly disease.
Early detection is possible through annual mammogram for most women starting at the age of 40 and regular clinical breast exams for women as young as 20, and it is the key message for the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Medical Clinic's observance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, which kicked off Oct. 1 with the Breast Cancer Awareness 5K Walk/Run at Eberle Park.
Lt. Col. (Dr.) Brian York, 359th Medical Group chief of medical staff, said annual mammogram for women starting at 40 are recommended by the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Mammography, an X-ray examination, can find breast cancer before it causes symptoms.
"That is the recommendation for women at lower risk," he said. "Women who are at higher risk should have a conversation with their provider to determine when to start screenings."
Women who are at higher risk include those with genetic factors and those who have a family history of breast cancer. Other risk factors that also cannot be changed are gender and aging, since the risk of developing breast cancer increases as women get older, according to the American Cancer Society.
Although a family history of breast cancer places women at higher risk, those without this risk factor should still follow a regular screening program, York said.
"Most women who get breast cancer - about 80 percent - do not have a family history of the disease," he said.
Some women who undergo a mammography are called back for additional imaging studies, which can create great anxiety, but York said it's usually more of a precautionary measure.
"Ten percent of women have to go back for additional studies," he said. "It's a common occurrence and it almost never means they have cancer."
York said the traditional monthly self-exam has been replaced with "breast awareness," which involves knowing how breasts normally look and feel.
"If you notice lumps or any other physical changes, or if you feel pain, you should notify your provider," he said.
Early detection - while the tumor is still confined to the breast - is also important because it improves a woman's survival rate, York said.
"The five-year survival rate is 98 percent," he said. "Of those women, 90 percent will remain cancer-free for more than 10 years."
The recommended starting age for mammogram is 40 for a reason, York said.
"Breast cancers tend to grow faster when women are in their 40s than earlier in life," he said. "You try to detect it before you get symptoms. The best chance of surviving cancer is to catch it at its lowest stage."
Healthy living is an important component in fighting breast cancer, York said. Maintaining a healthy weight, getting a moderate amount of exercise and eliminating alcohol consumption can contribute to a lower risk of breast cancer.
The clinic staff encourages beneficiaries to take advantage of mammography and other screening opportunities, which are a TRICARE benefit, York said.
"It's best to go to the location where they've had it done before because they will have the prior films," he said. "If they go to another facility, they should take their films with them."