The Importance of Screening from an Oncologist Point of View
"I had no idea it was there. I never felt anything." Contrary to popular belief, many women are diagnosed with breast cancer without actually feeling a lump and it's not until screening breast imaging when they find out about their cancer. Those are the stories I hear in my clinic that lets me know breast cancer screening works.
At its most recent update, the United States Preventative Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the recommended age at which women should start breast cancer screening from 50 to 40 years old. Certain high-risk women based on race and/or history of hereditary breast cancer may even be considered for screening earlier than age 40. Unfortunately, I've seen breast cancer strike young women in West Texas and these updated guidelines help physicians identify breast cancer sooner. Nowadays with a variety of imaging modalities including 3D mammogram, ultrasound, and breast MRI, we are detecting breast cancer more effectively than ever before. According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year survival for localized breast cancer (the cancer is confined to the breast and has not spread) is 99%. Once the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, that number drops to 85% and if it spreads to other distant organs such as the lung, liver, or brain, it plummets to around 30%. Also, though uncommon, men can get breast cancer as well. While there are no particular breast screening guidelines for normal risk men, any self-palpated lump or mass in the chest should not be ignored in men.
We can all universally agree that cancer sucks and it turns people's lives upside down. It's estimated there will be nearly 300,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in women in 2023. Despite the tremendous strides and advances we've made in breast cancer care, it's the second leading cause of cancer death in women. No one ever plans on getting cancer but the sooner it's detected, the better your odds are of surviving and not needing aggressive measures such as chemotherapy or extensive surgery. As an oncologist, my favorite clinic visits are the ones where cancer is the least of our worries and we end up talking about travel, trying to decrypt the bipolar Midland weather, or discussing the Cowboys' season (well, maybe not that one so much lately). Talk with your family care physician about when breast cancer screening is appropriate for you. As we like to say, when it comes to cancer, early detection saves lives.