This is a reprinting of M. Eric Williams’ 2016 column about breast cancer.
Fall is nearing in Mississippi. October begins Breast Cancer Awareness Month and, due to highly successful grassroots campaigns, men and women alike wear pink to show support for those who have had, or are living with, breast cancer.
For a disease that gets so much attention, there is a surprising number of people who do not know much about the condition. It is the most common invasive female cancer worldwide, accounting for 16 percent of all female cancer cases and 23 percent of invasive tumors.
Per the National Cancer Institute, there were over 235,000 cases of breast cancer in 2015 which led to about 40,000 deaths. You might be surprised to learn that men can also develop breast cancer. Although much rarer in men, this disease accounted for over 2,000 deaths in men last year alone.
The first warning sign of a problem is thickening of the skin in one area of the breast tissue. Sometimes, lumps may be found as well. To be clear, the vast majority of discovered lumps are not cancerous, however, it i
s always a good idea to have them checked out. Other symptoms that should be discussed with your doctor include pain to the armpits unrelated to menstruation, rash around the mammary tissue, and changes to the normal appearance of the tissue (excluding the normal aging process).
There are several diagnostic tests that can be done to aid in early detection of this disease. The self-breast exam is perhaps the best known by the general public. Although I will not discuss at length the procedure, the basics include the individual feeling their mammary tissue for any lumps or thick patches monthly.
This can be done in the privacy of your home and there are many informative videos and information that can be found online. The mammogram is another common breast cancer screening that involves imaging of the breast tissue. Although there is some disagreement about when you should begin getting yearly mammograms, the American Medical Association recommends they begin at age 40, or after menopause.
In rare cases, an ultrasound may be used to identify any small lumps that were found during previous examinations, or possibly a biopsy of tissue. Once a non-cancerous or cancerous lump is found, it is common for your physician to recommend removal.
Detection has come a long way in our lifetimes. Within my division at Jones County Junior College, we staff and operate a human simulation center for all of the allied health students on campus. One of our high-fidelity mannequins has interchangeable mammary tissue with several classic examples of malignant lumps that can be inserted. It is our hope that we can assist in training the next level of health professionals in advanced techniques for detection, counseling, and treatment of breast cancer. Do your part at home with self-exams and let’s stamp out this ugly disease.
Stay safe out there.
