March 27, 2024

UMNews You Can Use: Tips for Breast Cancer Screening

Timely and effective screenings are the most important step in preventing and treating breast cancer, according to a University of Mississippi physician, Dr. Hubert Spears.

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring non-skin cancer in women and the most frequent cause of cancer-related death in women worldwide. But remarkable progress has been made to decrease the death rate from breast cancer since 1980, said Dr. Hubert Spears, UM Health Services physician.

Advanced screening technology spots breast cancers earlier, before they have the chance to spread in the body. This makes them easier to surgically remove, Spears said.

When and how frequently women should start screening for breast cancer depends on the patient. Risk is determined by gene mutation and family medical history. The high-risk group includes patients with a mutation of the BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 gene, and patients who have undergone chest radiation for other issues such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma between the ages of 10 and 30.

Most women fall into the average risk group, which includes anyone with an immediate relative who has developed breast cancer, Spears said.

Some experts disagree on the frequency of screening, whether yearly is required or every two years is sufficient. There are recommendations for individualization and shared decision making between doctors and patients starting in the 40s.

Less than 15% of women assessed as having average risk will develop breast cancer. That number increases to 15%-20% in the moderate risk group and more than 20% for the high-risk group.

At greatest risk in the high-risk group are those with a BRCA 1 mutation who have a risk of 60%-75% of developing breast cancer, Spears said.