PRESS RELEASES
MYTHS ABOUT BREAST CANCER
Each October, people around the world celebrate Breast Cancer
Awareness Month. We celebrate those who are courageously fighting
this disease, and remember those who are no longer with us.
At Beverly Hospital, we strive to educate the community, promote
breast cancer awareness and provide comprehensive services to our
patients to diagnose and treat breast cancer and benign breast
disease. As a Certified Breast Patient Navigator for Beverly
Hospital's Breast Health Center, I am truly dedicated to early
detection of this disease and to providing vital education to our
patients. As a certified breast health navigator, it is my
role to assist in the diagnosis of benign breast disease and breast
cancer, support and guide patients through the healthcare system
recognizing their personal needs and educate patients so they feel
empowered and confident in the care they receive.
There is a lot of good information about breast health. The
following, however, are some common breast health myths of which
everyone should be aware of:
Breast cancer can be prevented.
Although breast cancer cannot be prevented, there are some
things that all women can do to reduce their risk. According the
American Cancer Society (2011) smoking cessation, developing a
regular exercise routine, limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy
weight and avoiding hormone usage after menopause can help reduce
the risk of breast cancer.
I don't have a family history of breast cancer, so I'm
not at risk.
Eighty five percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer do NOT
have family history of breast cancer. Having one first degree
relative with breast cancer does increase your risk of developing
the disease. Know your family history and have a breast
cancer risk assessment performed to find out if you are high risk
and a candidate for further testing.
I have yearly mammograms, so I don't need a clinical
breast exam from my doctor.
There are a small percentage of cancers that are not detected by
mammograms. The American Cancer Society recommends a clinical
breast exam every 3 years for women in their 20's and 30's, and
yearly for women age 40 and older.
I heard mammograms are painful; I don't want to get
one.
Mammograms are not painful; however they can be uncomfortable
for a few moments. During a mammogram, it is important for
the technologist to compress the breast tissue and position your
breast on the equipment in a manger that allows them to see all the
tissue. This enables the radiologist who is interpreting your
mammogram to best view the breast tissue. This could mean
that there is a slight tugging of the breast to get in the best
position.
I was called back for extra views after I had my
mammogram. I must have cancer.
A small percentage of the screening mammogram population returns
for additional views following their mammogram. Most
often, these are for overlapping tissues or benign breast
disease. An even smaller percentage of patients continue on
for further testing after the extra views.
I am a man, so I'm not at risk of breast
cancer.
Although men are 100 times less likely to develop breast cancer,
the risk is present, especially if there is a genetic/family
history of breast cancer, increase in alcohol consumption, obesity,
hormonal exposures or testicular conditions.
The Breast Health Center at Beverly Hospital at Danvers provides
ultrasound, breast MRI, minimally invasive breast biopsy, genetic
counseling and testing in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center, breast cancer risk assessment, breast health
consultation with surgeons and/or nurse practitioners, a certified
breast patient navigator for patients with both benign breast
disease and breast cancer and multidisciplinary case conference for
newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. At Beverly Hospital,
we provide a number of comprehensive services to our breast health
patients. In addition, mammography services are provided at
Addison Gilbert Hospital, the Women's Health and Art Center on the
Beverly Hospital campus, and at the Breast Health Center at Beverly
Hospital at Danvers.
Kimberly Willis, NP-C, MSN CBPN-IC
Beverly Hospital