Medicine: Knowledge is Power: Take Care of Your Breast Health

breasthealth.jpgBe Breast Aware and Have Regular Mammograms

Most women know their best friend’s birthday, their kid’s or grandkid’s favourite foods, but how well do they know their breasts? During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) encourages all women to be breast aware and to undergo regular mammograms every two years.

According to Statistics Canada, although mammography screening programs are widely available across the country, 28 per cent of women aged 50 to 69 reported in 2008 that they had not had a mammogram in the last two years. The top two reasons given by women for not having mammograms were: 1) not thinking it was necessary; 2) they didn’t get around to it.

“For women aged 50-69, routine mammograms are the most important step women can take to detect breast cancer early,” says Dr. George Pasut, vice president, Prevention and Screening, Cancer Care Ontario. “Early detection of breast cancer gives women more effective treatment options and a reduced chance of the cancer recurring.”

Beyond biennial mammograms, the OBSP recommends women be breast aware. This means getting to know how their breasts normally look and feel and empowering themselves by learning what changes to look for. Women are advised to talk to their health care provider if any of the following changes occur to their breasts:
• A lump or dimpling

• Changes in your nipple or fluid leaking from your nipple
• Skin changes or redness that do not go away

• Any other changes in your breasts

Most changes are not cancerous but all changes should be checked by a health care provider.
In addition to regular mammography and being breast aware, women can take the following additional steps to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer or other chronic diseases:

• Maintain a healthy body weight, especially after menopause.
• Be physically active.

• Have no more than one alcoholic drink per day, if at all.

• Minimize time on hormone replacement therapy, if used. This should be discussed with their  health care provider before making any changes.

• Be a non-smoker and avoid second-hand smoke.

“It is important that women talk to their health care provider about breast screening and to learn about the other screening programs for cervical and colorectal cancer,” says Dr. Verna Mai, provincial lead, Public Health, Cancer Care Ontario. “While overall, cancer screening rates among women increased in the last year, only slightly over half of eligible Ontario women are up-to-date on all their recommended screening.”

All women who have ever had any sexual contact need to have regular Pap tests to find early cell changes in the cervix, before these cells become cancerous. With regular Pap tests combined with the HPV vaccine, it is possible to prevent cervical cancer. Both men and women aged 50 and over should be screened every two years for colorectal cancer using a Fecal Occult Blood Test or FOBT. Those with an increased risk for colorectal cancer (i.e. with a parent, sibling or child with colorectal cancer) should be screened for colorectal cancer by colonoscopy starting at age 50, or 10 years earlier than the relative’s age at diagnosis ? whichever comes first. Ontarians should talk to their health care providers to determine if they are at an increased risk for any of these cancers.

For more information on breast, cervical and colorectal screening please visit: www.cancercare.on.ca.

To book an appointment at the Ontario Breast Screening Program Site nearest you call:
1-800-668-9304.

Cancer Care Ontario continually improves cancer services so that fewer people get cancer and patients receive better care.