When it Comes to Prevention, Knowledge Is Key
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time dedicated to increasing awareness of a disease that impacts hundreds of thousands of individuals, as well as their families and friends, each year. In fact, besides skin cancer, it’s the most common cancer among women in the United States— about one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. That’s why having a basic understanding of the factors that may increase your risk for developing breast cancer is so important. The good news is that there’s been appreciable growth in our knowledge about breast cancer, especially in recent years, which has led to remarkable progress in the early detection, treatment and prevention of the disease.
“There is no way to know who will develop breast cancer and who will not. Having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will definitely develop breast cancer. But knowing what your risks are can help you and your doctor make choices to reduce your risk,” explains Maen Farha, MD, a breast surgeon and medical director of the Breast Center at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.
“Some risk factors you can control such as making simple lifestyle changes like limiting alcohol, exercising regularly and controlling your weight. But others you can’t,” Dr. Farha notes. “Getting older, having close relatives with breast cancer and having a history of breast disease are all examples of risk factors you can’t control.”
But with today’s advanced diagnostic screening and testing options, individuals who may be at increased risk, such as Jackie Dressel, now have access to tools that can help them make more informed decisions about how to manage their breast health.
“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 31 and died when she was 36 and both of my grandmothers had breast cancer. So, I was very aware of my risk,” Dressel explains. “My gynecologist knew my family history and was conscientious about screenings. He suggested I see Dr. Farha at the Breast Center for a risk assessment.”
A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative, such as a mother or sister, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The younger the relative is diagnosed, the higher the risk.
Dr. Farha referred her to Emily Kuchinsky, CGC, a genetic counselor with MedStar Health Cancer Network, for genetic testing to determine if she had a mutation that would increase her risk. Though her test was negative, Dr. Farha recommended screenings every six months given her significant family history.
Dressel was diligent about her screenings, which involved alternating mammograms and MRIs. In 2012, she got pregnant and had a son. Then, in 2015, one of her mother’s sisters, who was also on a six-month screening cycle, found a lump in her breast between imaging appointments. It had already metastasized and she died.
“I wanted to be here for my son. He was getting older and I was getting closer to the age when my mom was diagnosed. I couldn’t live in fear anymore,” Dressel explains. She opted to have a preventive double mastectomy, which was performed by Dr. Farha.
Stories like Dressel’s are what inspired MedStar Health Cancer Network to launch the High-Risk Assessment and Cancer Prevention Program. The program focuses on providing information and guidance to those who have an increased risk for developing cancer.
“Women who have a strong family history of breast cancer are encouraged to find a comprehensive breast center like ours, where experienced breast specialists can guide you,” says Dr. Farha. “Our center is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program of the American College of Surgeons that sets stringent standards for breast cancer care. The high-level expertise and commitment of our multidisciplinary team to providing leading-edge breast care is unmatched.”
MedStar Health Cancer Network provides free clinical breast screenings in our facilities throughout the Baltimore area. For more information or an appointment, call 877-715-HOPE (4673).