Exams a Must for Detecting Breast Cancer

In Pennsylvania, experts predict that 10,570 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.

Catching the disease early could make the difference between life and death. That's where breast exams come into play.

Do it in the shower. Do it while getting ready for bed. Just do it once a month.

Get familiar with your breasts. Look for lumps, changes in size, shape or feel, and to see if there is any fluid.

“Women should check for breast lumps once a month around the time of their menstrual cycle,” resident Eric Pippi, who is a local physician’s assistant, said. “They should speak with their OB/GYN or their primary physician to learn the appropriate technique for checking for lumps.

"You need to move linearly with your fingers. If you go in circles, you may miss something.”

All women should know their breasts and surrounding areas so that they can be aware of changes, the American Cancer Society recommends.

“I encourage all of you to become an expert about the way your breasts look and feel so you can detect any subtle changes,” said Jennie Yoon Buchanan, Medical Director of Women’s Imaging Services at Florida Hospitals. “After all, it’s our body, and we are the ones who have to live with whatever goes wrong with it.”

It’s even more important that women in their 20s see a doctor for a Clinical Breast Examination every three years and once a year after turning 40. Most doctors recommend annual mammograms for women 40 and older. Higher-risk men and women should see their doctors more often.

“Many breast cancers will be found in women who never felt a lump, because on average, mammography will detect about 80 to 90 percent of the breast cancers in women without symptoms,” said Kristina Thomson, executive vice president, interim, for the American Cancer Society of New York and New Jersey.

Jen Kehm, co-founder of the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, has said that performing a self-breast examination at the same time every month is an important thing for all women to do.

“Detection early is key," Kehm said. "If found early, there’s a less likely chance the cancer could travel to other areas in your body.

“Breast cancer doesn’t kill women; it’s when it travels that’s harmful.”

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the goal during that month is to educate women and men about the disease and to raise money for the cure. Sometimes, women are afraid to go see their doctors, but this is the time to do it. Grab a friend and make appointments.

The American Cancer Society works closely with health departments and health care systems to provide free mammograms. Call 1-800-227-2345 for more information.

Developments in the medical field include diagnostic innovations, such as those found at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. That hospital is working on more early detection procedures that are less invasive.

“Improvements in detection, as well as insights into surgical treatment options and their outcomes, have increasingly led to longer, improved lives for women with breast cancer,” said Dr. Andrew Seidman, who practices in New York and is part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

In the Pittsburgh area, several organizations and health facilities are teaming up to ensure that all women recieve quality, timely care:

• A Mammogram Voucher Program for uninsured and underinsured women is sponsored by the Komen Pittsburgh Race for the Cure, the American Cancer Society Southwest Region Office and the Family Health Council, Inc. More than 60 Pittsburgh-area mammography facilities participate in the voucher program to ensure that all women have access to quality diagnostic breast care services, including UPMC Cancer Centers and Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. Anyone who wants to check on program eligibility should call the MVP toll-free number at 1-888-687-0505 or the ACS toll-free number at 1-888-227-5445.

• Adagio Health also is involved in breast and cervical cancer screening as part of its women’s health care services. Breast Self Examination (BSE) instruction, Clinical Breast Exams (CBE), pelvic exams and Pap tests are provided at several offices throughout western Pennsylvania. Mammography is provided at FDA-certified facilities in each Pennsylvania county. To find locations in Allegheny and Washington counties, visit www.adagiohealth.org/pages/healthcare/cancer.htm.

• UPMC Horizon and Family Planning Services of Mercer County in Pennsylvania are teaming up to offer clinical breast examinations, Pap tests and mammograms to eligible women through the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s HealthyWoman Program. Eligible women are aged 50 through 64 years with no health insurance. Those interested can schedule an examination between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, at the Family Planning Services office in Sharon, PA. At the completion of the examination, participants will receive a voucher for a free mammogram at the Womancare Center of UPMC Horizon, which will be scheduled by the Family Planning Services staff for a later date in October. To schedule an appointment, call the Sharon Family Planning Services office at 724-981-6250.

This article originally appeared on the .