Breast cancer diagnoses are on the rise in younger women, the best way to do a self-exam and other news I'm reading as a health reporter
Every October, as much of the world is tinted in warm autumnal colors, we in the health and wellness world are seeing pink. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is all about raising awareness and educating, as well as supporting the 2.3 million women worldwide who are affected by the disease. A breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating, and as our own Yahoo Life editors have reported, how one deals with it is deeply personal. Fortunately, new developments in breast cancer research and how it can be detected are happening all the time. Here’s what I’m currently reading up on.
1. A refresher on signs and symptoms of breast cancer to look out for
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a good reminder to brush up on the basics so that you can detect the disease early. To start, be familiar with what your breasts usually look and feel like (it’s your body — don’t be shy) and be on the lookout for any unusual changes. Symptoms of breast cancer may include a lump or bump; changes in the color of the breast skin; changes in the size, shape or appearance of the breast or nipple; or any unusual discharge.
And while men are much less likely to get breast cancer (the average man has a one in 833 chance of developing the disease at some point in his lifetime, while women have a one in eight chance), they certainly aren’t immune. Dr. Shane Dormady, an oncology specialist at El Camino Health in Mountain View, Calif., recommends men perform a self-exam every couple of months by feeling for hard lumps in the chest area and under and inside armpits, and by looking for changes in skin texture or to nipples. [The Telegraph and HealthCentral]
2. Diagnoses are on the rise — particularly among certain groups, according to the latest American Cancer Society report
A new report published by the American Cancer Society on Oct. 1 had some somber news. Although breast cancer deaths have declined, breast cancer diagnoses have increased 1% every year from 2012 to 2021. Among younger women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, the increase was even sharper, rising 1.4% a year from 2012 to 2021, with the study authors estimating that one in 50 (or 2%) of U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer by age 50.
Another disturbing trend was that Asian American/Pacific Islander women, who historically have had lower breast cancer rates, saw even sharper increases of 2.7% a year among women under 50 — meaning their breast cancer rates are now higher than those in Black, Hispanic and American Indian and Alaska Native women of the same age group. [NBC News and The New York Times]
3. Do you know how dense your breasts are? You’ll find out after your next mammogram.
The next time you get a mammogram, the results should include information on breast density — or how much fibroglandular tissue there is versus fatty tissue. That’s because a new rule by the Food and Drug Administration, which went into effect in early September, now requires all mammogram reports sent to patients in the U.S. to include an assessment of breast density.
Breast density is valuable health information for two reasons: The denser your breasts are, the more difficult it can be to spot cancer on a mammogram, and having dense breast tissue raises your risk level of developing breast cancer. [CNN]
4. Cost is discouraging many women from seeking breast cancer screenings and treatment
Health care is objectively very expensive in the U.S., and one consequence is that the price tag can be the deciding factor for many people’s medical decisions. A new national survey published in September found that a third of women who haven’t had a breast cancer screening in the past year identified cost as the deterrent. While mammograms are free for women over 40, insurance companies may not cover screening for younger women or additional tests like ultrasounds and MRIs. Of the women surveyed, 48% said they were “unlikely to pursue treatment if diagnosed if their out-of-pocket costs are over $2,000,” and 41% “would forgo treatment if their out-of-pocket costs are over $1,000.” [USA Today]
5. What we know about the link between breast cancer and breastfeeding
Breastfeeding isn’t just beneficial for babies; women who breastfeed also have a lower chance of developing breast cancer, with research showing that breast cancer risk decreases 4.3% for every 12 months a woman breastfeeds. But why is that? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has speculated that “one reason may be that when a woman is breastfeeding, she experiences hormonal changes that may delay the return of her menstrual periods. This reduces her lifetime exposure to hormones such as estrogen, which are linked to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers.” And now, a new study by researchers at Imperial College London, which was announced earlier this year, is currently investigating another possible reason: that breastfeeding may actually help to remove harmful cells from a mother’s body (without harming the baby).
And some more good news for breastfeeding enthusiasts: Two large studies published in September showed for the first time that breastfeeding after treatment for breast cancer is safe for new moms.
"With this new information, we can debunk the myth that breastfeeding is neither possible nor safe for breast cancer survivors," Dr. Fedro Alessandro Peccatori of the European Institute of Oncology IRCCS in Milan said in a statement. "They can have a normal pregnancy and relationship with their baby, including breastfeeding." [Business Insider and Reuters]