Early Breast Cancer Detection Saves Lives

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: MRI / PET / Ultrasound;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 02 Oct 2007 - 0:00 PDT

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To help educate women on how they can be more proactive regarding breast cancer, U.S. Preventive Medicine(R) (http://www.USPreventiveMedicine.com), a company working to organize and advance a culture of prevention throughout America, announced its list of screenings to help women with early detection of breast cancer. If detected early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer exceeds 95%. Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet there are other steps consumers can take for early detection.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and each year 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and over 43,000 die from the disease. One in eight women either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. While breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in American women, men are affected as well. Over 1,500 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

"Early detection of breast cancer dramatically improves the chances of successful treatment. It is therefore crucial for women to be proactive about their screenings," said Dr. Boyd Lyles, Chief Medical Officer, U.S. Preventive Medicine. "With today's technology advancements, women are able to stay ahead of the curve and become more knowledgeable about the proper screenings to have administered and discuss with their doctor the frequency in which to have them."

Below are U.S. Preventive Medicine's suggestions of screenings for women to help with early detection of breast cancer. Women should consult their health professional to determine the appropriate screening for them:

-- Mammogram: A mammogram is a special low dose x-ray of the breast that can detect cancer up to four years before a woman or her health care provider can feel a tumor. Mammography has been shown to reduce the death rate from breast cancer by 25 percent. Women age 40 and older should have mammograms, and discuss with their physician how often they should have one. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still a very good way to detect breast cancer. However, many women are not participating in mammograms on a regular basis. Women are encouraged to discuss this option with their physician.

-- Self Examination: Breast self-examination should be conducted monthly to check for lumps, thickenings, or any other abnormalities. The breast self-exam may complement or increase the effectiveness of the other screening procedures. Your health care provider can demonstrate the best breast self-examination techniques to you. It is important to remember that, although most breast lumps are not cancerous, all breast lumps should be evaluated by a medical professional. Women in their 20's should begin to conduct self breast examinations on a regular basis. As a woman becomes familiar with how her breasts normally look and feel she can more easily notice changes. Women should report any changes to their health professional right away.

-- Clinical breast exam (CBE): During a clinical breast exam, a physician carefully exams a woman's breasts and under their arms to check for lumps or other unusual changes. The nipple area will also be carefully examined for abnormalities.

-- Magnetic resonance image (MRI) of the breast: MRI is a test that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of the inside of the breast. It may be more sensitive than a mammogram for finding breast cancer in women who have a strong family history of breast cancer. However, MRI may find small irregularities that are not breast cancer, that can lead to a "false positive" reading. Therefore, the selection of an MRI as a substitute for a mammogram is one that needs to be made by your health care provider.

Breast cancer in men is a rare condition, accounting for approximately 1% of all breast cancers. Most cases of male breast cancer are detected between the ages of 60 and 70, although the condition can develop in men of any age. The most common symptom of breast cancer in men is a firm, non-painful mass located just below the nipple. Men should talk to their physicians if they feel they are experiencing this symptom.

About U.S. Preventive Medicine:

U.S. Preventive Medicine(R), a privately owned company, is organizing and commercializing the market for proactive preventive health services in partnership with established hospitals and physician groups. The Company licenses its proprietary methodology, technology and branding assets to a health provider, which operates a local point-of-care -- The Center for Preventive Medicine(R) -- in a geographic territory on an exclusive basis. Individually, The Center for Preventive Medicine delivers a consistent suite of prevention services; collectively, Centers across the country form The U.S. Prevention Network(TM). For more information, please visit http://www.USPreventiveMedicine.com.

U.S. Preventive Medicine(R) and/or The Center for Preventive Medicine(R) do not themselves provide physician or professional services. All physician services are provided by independent practitioners exercising independent professional medical judgment. In addition, U.S. Preventive Medicine and/or The Center for Preventive Medicine do not interfere with or regulate the private physician-patient relationship. This document neither offers for sale nor solicits offers to purchase a franchise or investment unit in a Center for Preventive Medicine(R) or any other security.

U.S. Preventive Medicine
http://www.USPreventiveMedicine.com