BREAST CANCER:
Mammograms, Risk Factors
Q: How common is breast cancer?
A: Breast cancer is very common –
about 1 in 8 women in the United States
will develop invasive breast cancer during
their lifetime, according to the American
Cancer Society (ACS). Fortunately, medical
advances are greatly improving survival
rates. In fact, the ACS also reports
that deaths from breast cancer have declined
39 percent from 1989, attributable
to improvements in treatment and early
detection from mammograms.
Q: Are there risk factors for breast
cancer that women can control?
A: Yes! There are actually several modifiable
breast cancer risk factors that
women can focus on to decrease their
risk of breast cancer and to live a healthier
life. These factors include minimizing alcohol
consumption, quitting smoking, exercising,
following a healthy diet and
maintaining a healthy weight and normal
Vitamin D levels.
Q: Are there risk factors for
breast cancer that women cannot
control?
A: Unfortunately, there are many unavoidable
risk factors for breast cancer including
gender, age, family history, genetics,
personal history of breast cancer, prior radiation
to the chest, menstrual and pregnancy
history, race/ethnicity and certain
breast changes.
Q: Can having a mammogram help
a woman to manage her risk for
breast cancer?
A: Although having a mammogram will
not change a woman’s risk for developing
breast cancer, it is crucial for women to remain
up-to-date on their mammograms.
This ensures that, should breast cancer develop,
it is caught at the earliest possible
stage. The Valley Hospital Breast Center offers
a comprehensive roster of the latest
screening and diagnostic services to increase
the chances of early detection.
These include 3-D diagnostic mammograms,
breast ultrasound and breast MRI
studies. Stereotactic and ultrasound-guided
biopsies are performed right in the Center.
For women determined to be at high-risk
for breast cancer (and ovarian cancer) Valley
offers risk-reducing surgery and highrisk
surveillance.
Q: What happens if a mammogram
indicates that a patient has developed
breast cancer?
A: If breast cancer is diagnosed, it is, of
course, imperative to provide excellent,
quality, evidenced-based care, but what is
probably most important is that we provide
the emotional support that patients
and their families need as they navigate this
journey. To ensure that our patients’ clinical,
social and emotional needs are met,
certified patient navigators are available to
provide seamless coordination of care,
support and guidance. This whole-person
approach to care is led by our dedicated
team of breast cancer experts. We take a
multidisciplinary approach to caring for patients.
Treatment choices include the latest
advances in medical oncology and the latest
in oncoplastic surgical techniques, a
state-of-the-art approach to breast conservation
surgery; breast seed localization,
which allows doctors to precisely pinpoint
and remove very small breast cancers that
can be seen on a mammogram but not felt
in the breast; opportunities to enroll in
clinical trials; and breast intraoperative radiation
therapy (IORT), which delivers an
entire course of radiation therapy to earlystage
breast cancer patients in the operating
room following a lumpectomy, thereby
eliminating the need for what is typically
weeks of post-surgery radiation. After
treatment, we offer specialized programs
and services to our patients including support
groups; nutritional guidance; and integrative
medicine services such as yoga, Tai
Chi, guided meditation, acupuncture and
massage therapy.
The Valley Hospital’s Breast Imaging Center
offers all breast screening and diagnostic services
in one convenient location at the hospital.
The Center offers flexible appointments, including
some evening and Saturday hours, to
make it easier to schedule a yearly mammogram.
Its multidisciplinary team of experienced
physicians, technologists and support professionals
coordinate all aspects of a woman’s
breast care. To schedule an appointment for a
mammogram, please call 201-447-8200.
BC Health, Beauty & Fitness 66
and Treatment
Breast cancer is a disease that can impact a woman at many different stages of her
life. BC The Mag Health, Beauty & Fitness recently had a conversation with Eleonora
Teplinsky, M.D., Head, Breast Medical Oncology, Valley-Mount Sinai Comprehensive Cancer
Care, about the risk factors for breast cancer, the importance of timely mammograms
and Valley’s unique approach to breast cancer treatment.