scheduling a visit with her doctor to discuss her personal and family history.
5. Why are mammograms an important tool for detecting breast cancer for Black women?
A Black woman’s chances of dying from breast cancer are 40 percent higher than a white woman’s. Breast cancer in Black women tends to be detected at later stages when the patient or their physician feels it. As a result of later diagnosis, more extensive treatment is required, and treatment success is lower. The early detection of breast cancer through screening mammography finds early-stage cancers for which treatment is most effective and least aggressive (there is greater than 99 percent success rates in early-stage breast cancer).
6. Many Black women have dense breasts. What would you recommend for them?
For women with dense breasts, we recommend additional screening like Mammogram with MRI or ultrasound. The mammogram remains an important screening first step.
7. How can women be self-aware of the look/feel of their breasts, and how can they detect if something is abnormal?
Look in the mirror after your shower comparing the look of both sides. Breasts should be mirror images, appearing and feeling similar but not identical (i.e. not twins but sisters). The nipples, outer and inner portions of the breasts should be similar side to side. If something feels off about your breasts or underarm (armpit), don’t talk yourself out of it. Report it to your doctor and get imaging as soon as you can.
8. Are there any breast cancer risk factors women should be aware of that they may not know about?
Family history is important. Often women don’t know that breast cancer in a male relative is a big risk factor. While family history is important, 80 percent of women with breast cancer have no family history.
9. What are the best methods of prevention and treatment for Black women?
Exercise. Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk, but nothing removes your risk. Women with breasts do still develop breast cancer even if they live healthy lifestyles. This is why mammograms are so important.
10. There’s been a lot of mixed information about when and how often a woman should get mammograms. What is your advice on this?
Most lives are saved when average-risk women begin mammograms at 40 and screen yearly. That’s proven by the data and acknowledged by all experts.
11. Can you speak about false positives? Will this be a challenge for women as they start getting mammograms earlier? What is your advice on combating this?
False positives refer to abnormal mammogram results that lead a patient to undergo additional testing and ultimately turn out to be normal. False positives occur in 1 of 10 screening mammograms. The majority of those will be confirmed benign at the time of that additional imaging, only a few will need biopsies to prove the benign nature of the findings. When women are young and having more mammograms there can be more false positives.
However, it is important to note that:
- False positives are relatively uncommon.
- “False positives” do frequently identify issues that need to be addressed. The finding is not a cancer, but it could be another diagnosis that should be treated to reduce a woman’s later risk of developing breast cancer.
- The anxiety caused by false positives is temporary, and for most women, it is worthwhile to have that additional testing and reassurance rather than avoid mammography.
- The risk of missing cancer outweighs the risk of a false positive exam.
12. There’s been a lack of evidence as to when women should stop screening for breast cancer. Do you have any insight or advice on this?
Women should continue to screen for breast cancer if they are healthy enough to undergo treatment. Women are now living longer and staying healthy longer, making it necessary for more of them to continue screening well beyond the age of 74 identified by the USPSTF. Many experts state that when a woman has a lifetime expectancy beyond 10 years and is willing to receive treatment for any breast cancer found, screening mammography can continue to extend her life.