Breast Cancer Information and Early Detection Tips for Women Ages 50 and Older

Cancers are a group of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells form a lump or mass called a tumor and are named after the part of the body where the tumor orignates. Therefore, breast cancer begins in the breast, which consists of glands for milk production called lobules, and the ducts that connect the lobules to the nipple. The remainder of the breast is made up of fatty, connective, and lymphatic tissue.

*Illustration taken from Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book

THE FACTS

• Your risk for breast cancer increases as you age. Approximately 77 percent of women diagnosed are over the age of 50. At age 50, your risk of breast cancer is 1 in 50; at age 60, your risk increases to 1 in 24; at age 70, you have a 1 in 14 chance; and at 80, 1 in 10.

• An estimated 212,920 new cases of invasive (cancer that has spread beyond the point of origination) breast cancer, as well as an additional 61,980 cases of in situ (cancer that has not yet spread) breast cancer were diagnosed in 2006.

• An estimated 41,430 women died from breast cancer in 2006.

• Incidence rates for breast cancer in the United States increased 4 percent each year during the 1980s, due to the greater use of mammography, which can detect tumors much earlier than manual exams. The number of new breast cancer cases leveled off in the 1990s.

• Mortality rates declined by 2.3 percent annually between 1990 and 2000 thanks to early detection and better treatment.

• The five-year survival rate for breast cancer diagnosed in early-localized stage is 98 percent.

WHAT IS YOUR RISK?

Most women are not aware of the fact that age itself is a risk factor for breast cancer. About 77 percent of the women diagnosed are over the age of 50, and 80 percent of the women who develop breast cancer have no family history of the disease. Women at a higher than average risk for developing breast cancer include those:

• who have had no children, or who gave birth to their first child after age 30;
• who began menstruating before the age of 12;
• who begin experiencing menopause after the age of 50;
• who are obese and/or physically inactive;
• who have a personal history of breast cancer or of biopsy-confirmed atypical hyperplasia;
• who drink moderate to high amounts of alcohol daily;
• who have a first-degree relative (mother, sister or daughter) diagnosed with breast cancer.

HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK

According to the National Cancer Institute, doctors cannot always explain why one person develops breast cancer and another doesn't. However, scientists have studied general patterns of cancer in the population to learn what things around us and what things we do in our lives may increase our chance of developing cancer. Some of these so-called risk factors can be controlled (such as our eating and exercise habits), while others cannot (such as our family history and genetic makeup). So although there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer there are some things you can do now that may help reduce your risk:

• Reduce fat in your diet. Fat should not exceed 30 percent of the total calories you eat daily. Transfatty acids found in some margarine, snack foods and bakery goods may be especially harmful.

• Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.

• Eat plant-based oils such as those found in olive oils and soybean oils. Soybeans also contain isoflavones (weak estrogens) that may help block estrogen receptors and lower estrogen levels and cell growth that may lead to breast cancer.

• If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation. One glass of beer a day can increase your risk by 10 percent because estrogen levels increase in response to alcohol.

• Exercise at least four hours a week. Physical activity can also lower estrogen levels.

• Tamoxifen and rolaxifen are drugs that have been shown to reduce risk of breast cancer by blocking estrogen cell receptors ­ studies of both drugs are currently underway. These drugs may be appropriate for high-risk women with a personal history of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) or atypical dysplasia or those with a strong family history of breast cancer.

EARLY DETECTION

Early detection of breast cancer saves lives. When breast cancer is found and treated early (while in stage 1 or 2 in which it has not spread beyond the breast), the five-year survival rate is approximately 98 percent. For women over the age of 50, a combination of monthly breast self-exams, annual clinical breast exams, and annual mammograms is the best way to detect breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages.

Breast Self-Exam (BSE):

By this time in your life, self-examination of your breasts should be a habit. And because your risk for breast cancer increases as you age, it is very important to continue this healthy routine. If it's not yet a habit, it's never too late to begin. Examine your breasts on the same day every month for physical changes. Monthly exams will allow you to become familiar with your breasts and learn what feels normal. Here are simple instructions for performing a monthly breast self-exam.

Clinical Breast Exam (CBE):

Be sure to ask your health care provider to perform a clinical breast exam each year. During the exam, your health care provider will check your breasts for any changes, lumps or other warning signs of breast cancer.

Mammography:

You should have a mammogram every year. A mammogram is a simple x-ray procedure that examines each breast for abnormalities that are too small to be felt during a clinical or breast self exam. Mammograms can detect breast lumps up to two years before they can be felt.

THE SYMPTOMS

Breast cancer is often detected in its earliest stage as an abnormality on a mammogram, well before it can be felt by the woman or by her health care provider. If a cancer has grown to the point where physical signs and symptoms are present, you may notice the following:

• Breast lump or thickening
• Swelling, redness or tenderness
• Skin or nipple changes in color or texture
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Nipple pain, discharge, scaliness or retraction (nipple sinks inward)
• Lump in the armpit area

Breast pain is very commonly due to benign conditions and usually is not a symptom of breast cancer.

Regardless of your age, if you experience any of the above symptoms, see your health care provider immediately.

Information courtesy of the American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Facts & Figures, 2005-2006

Remind a friend!