Tuesday, December 13, 2011

What do you do if you have dense breast tissue?

Dense breast tissue is important, because there are five times more breast cancers in dense tissue and dense breast tissue can hide abnormalities on the mammogram (http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa062790).


One proactive Texan, Henda Salmeron, had that experience.  Her cancer did not show up on her mammogram.  She persisted and, the cancer was revealed by a sonogram (or  breast ultrasound).  She had not been told that she had dense breast tissue and that another kind of study might be helpful for her.  She decided to try to make a difference for other women with dense breasts and ultimately "Henda's Law" was passed and takes effect January 1, 2012.  It requires that the mammography facility inform you if you have dense breast tissue and "that you might benefit from supplemental screening tests that might be suggested by your ordering physician" (http://txrad.org/index.cfm/trs-forum/texas-hb-2102).
  


If you have dense breast tissue, you will be told when you get your mammogram  and then you may pursue additional screening, such a breast sonogram, like Henda, or a breast MRI.  You are now empowered thanks to Henda Salmeron.  The law was not meant to cause concern, but to increase awareness and promote the discussion about a more complete screening for those with dense breast tissue.


If you need help don't hesitate to call or email.


Owen Winsett, MD
512-451-5788
http://www.owenwinsettmd.com

Monday, December 12, 2011

More on Personal Prevention of Breast Cancer

Last week at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium a panel of researchers released a 364 page document on the science behind the risk of breast cancer development and the environment.  The exhaustive report from the Institute of Medicine was paid for by the Susan G. Komen Foundation.


Some saw it as a disappointment because they found little evidence to correlate certain pesticides, cosmetics or bishphenol A (or BPA in some plastic bottles) with breast cancer risk.


BUT, what they did say that does matter: 


          Don't gain weight (or loose weight)
          Regularly Exercise
          Limit or avoid Estrogen-Progestin use
          Limit Alcohol consumption
          Don't smoke
          Avoid unnecessary medical radiation


Sounds just like what we have been blogging.


The complete study may be found on the Institute of Medicine website and a quote is below: https://www.iom.edu/reports/2011/Breast-Cancer-and-the-Environment-A-Lifecousre-Approach.aspx


The IOM concludes that women may have some opportunities to reduce their risk of breast cancer through personal actions, such as avoiding unnecessary medical radiation throughout life, avoiding use of estrogen –progestin hormone therapy, avoiding smoking, limiting alcohol consumption, increasing physical activity, and, for postmenopausal breast cancer, minimizing weight gain.


The evidence is there and more and more data is accumulating and being recognized!  


So LET'S GET MOVING and BE LEAN.