Tapestry Health provides low-cost or free breast- and cervical-cancer screening for those who are income eligible. We also accept MassHealth, Tufts, and Health New England insurance. To find out if you qualify, or for more information, call (413) 586-2016 or 1-800-696-7752.
All women are at risk for breast cancer, regardless of race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women living in Massachusetts and is second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. And although there are factors that increase your risk, such as age and family history, the majority of women who are diagnosed have no known risk factors.
The good news is if breast cancer is detected early, the survival rate increases significantly. Getting checked for breast cancer is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to keep yourself healthy. Even if you perform regular breast self-exams, annual exams by a health professional are essential. For women age 40 and older and those in high-risk groups, regular mammograms should be performed every one or two years. A mammogram can detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage—an average of one to three years before a woman can feel a lump.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Certain factors increase the likelihood that you will develop breast cancer. These risk factors include:
- Advancing age
- A family history of breast cancer
- Previous breast abnormalities
- Eating a high-fat diet
- Early onset of menstruation (before age 12) or delayed menopause (after age 55)
- Delayed childbirth (after age 30) or no children
- Alcohol consumption
- Cigarette smoking
- Use of hormone replacement therapy
- Becoming overweight as an adult
- But remember, the majority of women who get breast cancer have no known risk factors, which is why vigilance is so important
Detection Methods
Early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer. That's why you need to follow all three methods of examining your breasts, keeping in mind that each one as important as the next.
Breast Self-Exams
Beginning in your twenties, you should do a monthly breast self-exam. The best time do an exam is about a week after the start of your menstrual period, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and you're most likely to detect a lump. A self-exam helps you become familiar with your breasts and can help you detect any changes. In fact, most lumps are found by women themselves. You should report any changes to your clinician immediately. As many as 80 percent of lumps are not cancerous, but all new lumps or changes should be examined by a clinician. If you do not know how to perform a breast self-exam, talk with your health care provider or a Tapestry Health clinician, or click hereClinical Breast Exams
A clinical breast exam is an examination of your breasts by a clinician or nurse practitioner. The exam is also an opportunity to discuss breast health and to learn how to do a breast self-exam correctly. According to the American Cancer Society, women in their twenties and thirties should have a clinical breast examination every three years. At age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year.
Mammograms
A mammogram is an x-ray that looks at breast tissue. Mammograms can detect breast cancer at its earliest stages, but they are not perfect, which is why self-exams and clinician exams are still important. Women who are not in high-risk groups should have their first mammogram between the ages of 35 and 40, to establish a "baseline" for later comparison. Then, women 40 or older should have a mammography every one or two years. Over the age of 50, you should have one every year.
When a Lump is Detected
If during any of these exams a lump is detected, your clinician will refer you elsewhere for a biopsy. A biopsy takes a sample of tissue from the lump and examines it for cancer cells. Remember: 80 percent of all breast lumps are non-cancerous (benign). Non-cancerous lumps include cysts, fibroid tumors, and lipomas. In addition, many women have generalized lumpiness in their breasts called fibrocystic changes. These benign conditions do not lead to cancer or increase the likelihood that you will develop breast cancer.
If a breast lump is cancerous, you will be referred to an oncologist, or cancer doctor, who will check to see if the cancer has spread elsewhere. If it is confined to the breast, the survival rate is close to 100 percent.
Healthy Breast Lifestyle
While living a healthy lifestyle doesn't guarantee you will never have breast cancer, studies show that it can lower your odds. Here are some ways to live a healthier lifestyle:
- Eat a low-fat diet, rich in vegetables and fruits.
- Exercise regularly.
- If you smoke, quit.
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
Contact a Tapestry Health clinician if you have any questions.
