Panel
presents breast cancer awareness
By Ruth Estrada
On-line Forty-Niner
Every
three minutes in this country, a woman is
diagnosed with breast cancer and every 11
minutes, a woman dies from the disease,
according to a panel of women who came together
at Long Beach City College Wednesday.
This year the Harbor UCLA Medical Center
expects 190,000 women to be diagnosed with
breast cancer, said Dr. Anita Nelson, medical
director of the women’s healthcare clinic
at the center.
Nelson said that the medical community expects
15 percent fewer deaths from breast cancer
this year.
“Ten years ago we expected 46,000 women
to die from breast cancer. This year we
expect a little over 40,000,” Nelson said.
“Now you can see why people are so excited
about [X-ray methods] in early diagnosis
and clinical breast examinations because
we can already feel and see measurable differences
that those programs have made.”
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death
among women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s,
Nelson said.
“Every year that a woman lives the risk
of breast cancer goes up,” she said. “If
you are a Caucasian woman it goes up until
you are age 80, and if you are an African
American woman it goes up until you are
age 85.”
Marcia Litt, a breast cancer survivor, said
that breast cancer awareness is crucial.
“I feel that early detection is very important,
doing self exams every month and seeing
your doctor on a regular annual basis are
the key factors in preventing breast cancer,”
Litt said.
A study that was issued in July showed an
important finding among women who are considered
high risk for breast cancer, said Dr. Linda
Lillington at UCLA Medical Center.
“It was reported that there was an increase
of breast cancer risk found in post-menopausal
women who were taking estrogen plus progesterone,”
Lillington said.
She said the next concern is whether women
should take hormone replacement therapy
to manage menopausal symptoms.
“It is not a question that can be easily
answered,” Nelson said. “It will take research
and will require discussion with your own
doctor.”
Age is a determining factor in how often
women should receive mammograms, Lillington
said.
“According to the American Cancer Society,
if you look at the guidelines, they recommend
women starting at age 40 should have a mammogram
every 1 to 2 years and women over 50 yearly,”
Lillington said. “A baseline mammogram is
recommended for women in their thirties.”
It is never too early to start self-breast
exams, she added.
“I think learning about [breast exams] in
high school as soon as you begin to menstruate
is a great time,” Lillington said. “Women
should get to know their bodies as early
as possible.”
Women between the ages of 18 to 25 can contract
breast cancer and although the percentage
as very small, it should not be ignored,
she said.
“However, women who are pre-menopausal and
who develop breast cancer, the breast cancer
itself tends to be more aggressive,” Lillington
said. “It can be a tougher disease to treat.”
The detection of breast cancer in its early
stages is crucial, she said.
“Generally if the disease has spread throughout
the body the prognosis is not good,” Lillington
said. “You might have a 5 percent chance
of surviving.”
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