Breast Cancer: Your Questions Answered

How would someone be diagnosed with breast cancer?

If a woman feels a mass or lump, it always warrants a visit to the doctor. However, women are most commonly diagnosed today before any symptoms arise thanks to mammography. Through a yearly mammogram, cancer can be detected at the very earliest, microscopic stage called stage 0. This is when breast cancer is most treatable and why it is so important to be screened.

What factors increase your risk of breast cancer?

Two major risk factors include a personal history of breast cancer and a family history of breast cancer — even on your father’s side. Less commonly known, women whose menstrual periods started very early, around or before the age of 11, and women who have never had a full-term pregnancy are also at an increased risk.

If you’re at risk for breast cancer, what steps should you take for your prevention?

First, consider being evaluated at a high-risk clinic, like the one at Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital or Progress West Hospital. A thorough evaluation can provide an actual risk percentage. If your risk is high enough, your doctor may recommend more frequent surveillance or an additional type of surveillance, such as an MRI scan or ultrasound. Leading a healthier lifestyle can lower your risk, and for high-risk women, there are medications that can actually lower it by 50 percent.

For women with early-stage breast cancer, what are their treatment options?

With mammography as sophisticated as it is today, women are being diagnosed very early. In fact, at least 25% of women with breast cancer are diagnosed at stage 0. While treatment is tailored to each woman’s unique case, it often involves an outpatient surgery called a lumpectomy, which removes only the affected area. Some women may require medication or radiation therapy following surgery, but their outlook is excellent. If you’re 40 or older, don’t delay your annual mammogram. Early detection is vital in ensuring a positive outcome.

Virginia Herrmann, MD, is a Washington University medical oncologist with an office on the campus of Barnes-Jewish St. Peters Hospital. For more information, call 636.928.WELL.