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The Fair is free to the public and will include a
panel discussion with local oncologists, radiologists and other professionals in
the medical field; tables of cancer-related resources; drawings for gift cards
from local businesses; music provided by local radio station Star 101.5;
delicious food; and free clinical breast exams!
Nancy Grubb, MD and Cyd Marckmann, ARNP from Sound Family Medicine will be part
of the team providing free breast exams at the event. Dr. Grubb and Ms.
Marckmann emphasize the need for all women to have access to breast exams, which
is why they are donating their time to support this worthwhile event.
Be Aware of Breast Cancer
If you’re a woman, you are already at risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer is
the second-most common type of cancer among women in the United States, after
skin cancer. Each year, more than 211,000 American women learn they have this
disease. Learn the risk factors and symptoms so that you are educated about this
disease and can respond quickly.
Know the Risk Factors
Studies have found the following risk factors for breast cancer:
- Age: The chance of getting breast
cancer goes up as a woman gets older. Most cases of breast cancer occur in
women over 60 and after menopause.
- Personal history of breast cancer: A
woman who had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting
cancer in the other breast or in any preserved breast tissue on the same
side.
- Family history: A woman's risk of
breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast
cancer. The risk is higher if her family member got breast cancer before age
40. Having other relatives with breast cancer may also increase a woman's
risk.
- Reproductive and menstrual history:
- The older a woman is when she has her
first child, the greater her chance of breast cancer.
- Women who had their first menstrual
period before age 12 are at an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Women who went through menopause after
age 55 are at an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Women who never had children are at an
increased risk of breast cancer.
- Race: Breast cancer is diagnosed more
often in European American women than Latina, Asian, or African American
women.
- Breast density: Older women whose
mammograms (images of the breasts created by using X-rays) show more dense
tissue are at an increased risk.
- Being overweight or obese after
menopause: The chance of getting breast cancer after menopause is higher
in women who are overweight or obese.
- Lack of physical activity: Women who
are physically inactive throughout life may have an increased risk of breast
cancer. Being active may help reduce risk by preventing weight gain and
obesity.
- Drinking alcohol: Studies suggest
that the more alcohol a woman drinks, the greater her risk of breast cancer.
Do you Exhibit Symptoms?
The first symptom of breast cancer is typically a lump that feels different than
the surrounding breast tissue.
The second sign is a change in how the breast or nipple looks. It may be a
change in the size or shape of the breast, the nipple may turn inward, or the
skin of the breast, areola, or nipple may turn scaly, red, or swollen.
Detect the Problem Early
The earlier the cancer is detected, the more likely treatment will work. Women
in their 40’s and older should have mammograms every one to two years. Women who
are younger than 40 and have risk factors for breast cancer should ask their
health care provider when to have their first mammogram and how often to have
future mammograms.
At Sound Family Medicine (SFM), we believe that, in addition to self-exams, the
best way to detect breast cancer is to encourage all women to have their
clinical exams performed annually. If appropriate, your SFM physician will write
a referral for you to have a mammogram at a local imaging facility and will
provide you with information on how to schedule your mammogram. It is usually
possible to schedule a mammogram within a week of your referral. If there is a
concern following your clinical exam, the mammogram may be scheduled sooner.
Scheduling an Annual Clinical Exam is a Must. Just Don’t Come Too Early.
Remember, when you schedule your annual clinical breast exam, make sure that you
have waited a full year or more since your last one. It is important to note
that coming in early for an exam or physical, even one day, is not allowed by
most insurance providers. It is vital to closely review your insurance policy
and the date of your last examination in order to avoid being charged the full
rate for your doctor’s visit. This is not the case if you have found a breast lump or are experiencing a
symptom. This is considered a separate event by insurance providers and would
not be charged as an annual exam. If you believe that you have a symptom, don’t
wait to be seen, be proactive and make an appointment.
Additional Resources:
http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
http://www.breastcancerawareness.com/
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enjoy mountain views when they visit.