By Carol Fisher-Linn
Breast Cancer Awareness month is the perfect time to schedule your annual mammogram if you have not done so. That being said, “Pay attention to the timing of your mammogram if you recently got vaccinated,” Dr. Bagdasarian of Adventist Health says. To be on the safe side, many clinicians and organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recommend waiting four to six weeks after the shot to get your mammogram.
The FDA reminds us of this: “Influenza (flu) viruses typically spread in fall and winter, with activity peaking between December and February. Getting vaccinated in the fall can lower your chances of getting the flu.” Also, the updated Covid vaccines are here. Best case scenario is to get your mammogram as soon as you can, now, and then get your shots (including the one for shingles if you need it) so you won’t have to wait six weeks after receiving the shots to get your mammo.
What’s the big deal with mammograms, you ask? You may think that self-breast exams are a sure way to find anything amiss, but not so. The National Center for Biotechnology Information suggests that they are no longer recommended because it is not breast cancer screening. In other words, they want it caught sooner and mammograms will do that. Breast cancer is insidious and finding a lump through self-examination means it’s been at work in your body for some time. Since 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime, you want to do everything in your power not to be in that 13% group. Breastcancer.org say that in 2023, an estimated 297,790 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in U.S. women, along with 55,720 new cases of DCIS. (DCIS – ductal carcinoma in situ, is considered the earliest form of breast cancer.) DCIS is noninvasive, meaning it hasn’t spread out of the milk duct and has a low risk of becoming invasive, says Mayo Clinic.) DCIS is usually found during a mammogram done as part of breast cancer screening or to investigate a breast lump.
Breast cancer accounts for about 30% of all new cancer cases in women each year in the United States. There are currently more than 4 million women with a history of breast cancer in the United States. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment. Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among U.S. women. Do you have a family member who has/had breast cancer? If so, a woman’s chances of breast cancer nearly doubles with approximately 15% of women who get breast cancer in this group. What that means is that about 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen because of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
Now men, this part is for you – In 2023, an estimated 2,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 833. Unlike male lung cancer, which is 1 in 16, it still poses a health risk to men. According to an imaging consulting group, if you are a man who has found a lump in your breast tissue, and have a family history of breast cancer, it’s extremely important to get screened. Screening for men is similar to women as men can get mammograms, which are often more accurate in men since they typically have less density in their breast tissue. Now, this is important – men who have breast cancer carry a higher mortality rate than women who have breast cancer, because it is treated like the elephant in the room. This needs to stop. Beyonce’s father had breast cancer and is an advocate for men’s breast cancer awareness.
The thought of having breast cancer is very scary. It is easier to ignore signs and avoid the dreaded mammograms, but the consequences can be life-threatening. Why take that chance? Ladies and guys – if you have a suspicion that something is going on in your breasts, speak to your doctor and take action. It could save your life.