Breast Cancer 101
True or False: Only women can develop breast cancer.
What is false? - Men can develop breast cancer too. According to the CDC, approximately 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the U.S. occurs in a man.
This imaging examination of the breasts is used to screen for breast cancer.
What is a mammogram?
You discover a new lump in your breast. Should you ignore it, massage it or tell your healthcare provider?
What is tell your healthcare provider? - Any changes in your breast tissue should be reported.
Walking, dancing, swimming and gardening all count toward this healthy habit that can help lower breast cancer risk.
What is physical activity? - Staying active and exercising is a great way to reduce your risk of health issues.
Myth or Fact: Breast cancer becomes more common as women get older.
This is one of the biggest risk factors for developing breast cancer - and unfortunately, none of us can stop it!
What is aging? - Breast cancer risk increases with age, and more breast cancers are diagnosed in women age 50 or older.
According to current USPSTF recommendations, average-risk women should begin routine mammogram screening at this age.
What is age 40? - The USPSTF recommends mammography every 2 years from age 40-74.
Besides a lump, a change in the size or shape of this body part should be reported to a healthcare provider.
What is the breast? - Lumps or changes in size/shape of breast tissue should be reported to your healthcare provider for further evaluation.
Maintaining this - not necessarily being "skinny" - can help lower breast cancer risk, particularly after menopause.
What is a healthy weight? - Weight management is a good way to reduce health concerns, including risk of developing certain cancers.
Myth or Fact: If nobody in your family has ever had breast cancer, you cannot get it.
What is myth? - Family history can play an important role in increasing risk, but having no family history does not mean someone cannot develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
Approximately this fraction of U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime: 1 in 4, 1 in 8 or 1 in 20?
What is 1 in 8? - This is just one of the statistics that displays the reality of how important it is to understand your risk of developing breast cancer.
True or False: You should wait until you feel a lump in your breast before getting a mammography.
True or False: If a breast lump is not painful, you do not need to worry about it.
What is false? - A new breast lump or other concerning change should be evaluated even if it is not painful.
When it comes to breast cancer risk, which is the healthiest choice: more alcohol, less alcohol or alcohol does not influence breast cancer risk?
What is less alcohol? - Breast cancer risk increases as alcohol consumption increases; choosing not to drink or limiting alcohol intake can help reduce risk.
What is fact? - Regular screening can help identify breast cancer sooner, which can potentially increase treatment options and may make treatment more likely to be successful.
These two well-known genetic mutations are associated with an increased risk in developing breast cancer.
What are BRCA1 and BRCA2? - These genetic mutations do not guarantee that a person will develop breast cancer, but they do increase the likelihood of someone developing it.
Mary is a 78-year-old female, who is healthy and active. She asks "Am I automatically too old for mammograms?". What is the best response?
What is no? - Talk with your healthcare provider about whether continued screening is appropriate to you. According to the USPSTF, whether or not you should continue getting mammograms is individualized based on overall health, risk factors and life expectancy.
A nipple suddenly pulling inward when it did not do so before is known as this type of change and should be reported.
What is nippled retraction or inversion?
What is false? - There is no magic breast-cancer-preventing food. Overall healthy lifestyle choices, including diet, are more useful than relying on one particular food.
Myth or Fact: A woman over 75 should automatically stop getting mammograms on her 75th birthday.
What is myth? - There is no universal recommendation for all women to stop getting mammograms after the age of 74. The USPSTF says that recommendation to stop should be guided by each individual patient's history, lifestyle, overall health, risk factors and life expectancy, and decided with a healthcare provider.
After lung cancer, breast cancer holds this ranking among causes of cancer death in U.S. women.
What is second? - Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States.
What is false? - Mammograms are an important screening tool, but no screening test is perfect. Knowing what is normal for your breasts and reporting any changes remains important.
Name three breast changes that should prompt someone to contact a healthcare provider.
What are a new lump, nipple changes or discharge, skin dimpling, irritation, redness/swelling, changes in breast size or shape, or persistent breast/nipple changes? - ANY new or unusual breast change deserves medical attention.
Name three healthy choices that may help lower breast cancer risk.
What are staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding/limiting alcohol consumption? - These factors can help reduce the risk of several types of cancer, as well as other health conditions.
Myth or Fact: Name four things older adults should remember about breast cancer.
What are: know what is normal for your breasts, report new or unusual changes, discuss appropriate mammogram screening with your healthcare provider and make healthy lifestyle choices that can help reduce risk? - Family history and personal risk factors such as smoking or alcohol consumption should also be discussed with a healthcare provider.