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
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
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.
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.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Now is the time!
Holiday time is a perfect time to begin exercising. You have time and can be encouraged by family to do so or encourage a family member to do so and find a lasting exercise buddy.
One of the added benefits of just going for a walk, say after a turkey dinner, is that you will feel better! Not so stuffed! More energetic!
And, on a walk you can communicate with a friend or family member better than in front of the TV!
Moving around and exercise can be fun and rewarding!
Let this holiday season be the one that gets you started on a program to reduce your risk for breast cancer and begin with exercise. Don't wait for inspiration. Do it and you will feel better and get the inspiration to continue!
One of the added benefits of just going for a walk, say after a turkey dinner, is that you will feel better! Not so stuffed! More energetic!
And, on a walk you can communicate with a friend or family member better than in front of the TV!
Moving around and exercise can be fun and rewarding!
Let this holiday season be the one that gets you started on a program to reduce your risk for breast cancer and begin with exercise. Don't wait for inspiration. Do it and you will feel better and get the inspiration to continue!
Friday, November 11, 2011
PREVENTION, PREVENTION, PREVENTION!!!
I am sure that you all noted a lack of attention to PREVENTION in this week's "pink page" breast cancer supplement to the Austin American Statesman.
We need to tell all our friends and families about the good news. At least 75,000 breast cancer diagnoses per year can be prevented!
BE LEAN. BE ACTIVE. EXERCISE EVERY DAY.
Those three are the main achievements for breast cancer reduction.
For some (after discussion with your doctor or me) aspirin, omega3, limit alcohol, limit red meat, add red apples, red grapes, strawberries, walnuts and coffee.
Help me get the news out: 75,000 cases of breast cancer prevented each year!
We need to tell all our friends and families about the good news. At least 75,000 breast cancer diagnoses per year can be prevented!
BE LEAN. BE ACTIVE. EXERCISE EVERY DAY.
Those three are the main achievements for breast cancer reduction.
For some (after discussion with your doctor or me) aspirin, omega3, limit alcohol, limit red meat, add red apples, red grapes, strawberries, walnuts and coffee.
Help me get the news out: 75,000 cases of breast cancer prevented each year!
Thursday, November 10, 2011
More is better when talking about activity.
Data is emerging that, although exercise is a good way to reduce the risk of breast cancer, one needs to be active all day. According to Dr. Neville Owen at the recent American Institute for Cancer Research meeting (http://aicr.org) "sitting time is emerging as a strong candidate for being a cancer risk in its own right."
Many people sit as much as 10 hours a day: driving to work, work , eating, etc. He cited studies that demonstrated that measures such as waist circumference, insulin resistance and inflammatory factors, all increased with sitting and decreased with activity. These factors are related, not only to cardiovascular disease, but also cancers. He noted a benefit to just 1 or 2 minutes ACTIVITY during each hour.
We need practical solutions NOW. I offer mine and others from the meeting. I am fortunate to have a job of walking up and down the hall and in and out of rooms, but I sit on a 65cm exercise ball at the computer and use a standing desk when writing. Get up and walk down the hall or around your desk the last 5 minutes of each hour (set the alarm on your computer). Use hand weights. Stand to talk on the phone. Walk down the hall to deliver a message instead of emailing. You get the idea.
MORE MOVEMENT MEANS FEWER BREAST CANCERS!
Many people sit as much as 10 hours a day: driving to work, work , eating, etc. He cited studies that demonstrated that measures such as waist circumference, insulin resistance and inflammatory factors, all increased with sitting and decreased with activity. These factors are related, not only to cardiovascular disease, but also cancers. He noted a benefit to just 1 or 2 minutes ACTIVITY during each hour.
We need practical solutions NOW. I offer mine and others from the meeting. I am fortunate to have a job of walking up and down the hall and in and out of rooms, but I sit on a 65cm exercise ball at the computer and use a standing desk when writing. Get up and walk down the hall or around your desk the last 5 minutes of each hour (set the alarm on your computer). Use hand weights. Stand to talk on the phone. Walk down the hall to deliver a message instead of emailing. You get the idea.
MORE MOVEMENT MEANS FEWER BREAST CANCERS!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
From IDEA to ALPHA and MORE EXERCISE EQUALS FEWER BREAST CANCERS
A recent report of the continuing ALPHA trial (Alberta Physical Activity and Breast Cancer Prevention) by Christine Friedenreich, PhD not only gives more evidence that physical activity lowers the risk for breast cancer but gives insight into mechanisms at work (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/753114).
The study was designed to examine the effect of a year long supervised exercise intervention on biomarkers associated with breast cancer. Previously these researchers have reported lower estrogen levels with exercise in postmenopausal women.
The trial of 320 healthy but inactive women, 156 agreed to one year of supervised exercise 5 days a week for 45 minutes. The ages of the women ranged from 50 to 74 years. The control group did not change activity level and neither group changed diet.
The results reported at this time reveal a lower C-reactive protein (CRP) level in the exercisers. This is a protein which is a biomarker for inflammation. Although we don't know exactly how inflammation raises cancer risks, we know that chronic inflammation produces chemicals in the body that encourage cell proliferation and suppress normal cell death, which increases cancer risk.
We are getting closer to the answer for how exercise reduces cancer risk, in the meantime, we know exercise works.
MORE EXERCISE LEADS TO FEWER BREAST CANCERS!!!
The study was designed to examine the effect of a year long supervised exercise intervention on biomarkers associated with breast cancer. Previously these researchers have reported lower estrogen levels with exercise in postmenopausal women.
The trial of 320 healthy but inactive women, 156 agreed to one year of supervised exercise 5 days a week for 45 minutes. The ages of the women ranged from 50 to 74 years. The control group did not change activity level and neither group changed diet.
The results reported at this time reveal a lower C-reactive protein (CRP) level in the exercisers. This is a protein which is a biomarker for inflammation. Although we don't know exactly how inflammation raises cancer risks, we know that chronic inflammation produces chemicals in the body that encourage cell proliferation and suppress normal cell death, which increases cancer risk.
We are getting closer to the answer for how exercise reduces cancer risk, in the meantime, we know exercise works.
MORE EXERCISE LEADS TO FEWER BREAST CANCERS!!!
Monday, November 7, 2011
I have a new IDEA!
Impressive results were recently presented at the American College of Rheumatology 2001 meeting (http://www.reuhmatology.org) in the Intensive Diet and Exercise for Arthritis (get it?) trial.
454 overweight and obese people (72% women) with an average BMI of 33 (e.g. 5'5" and 200#) and an average age of 66 years were randomized into 3 groups: intensive diet (maintaining >10% weight loss), moderate exercise (two 15 minute walks and 20 minutes of weight training 3 times a week) or both.
Each group lost weight, but the group both dieting and exercising lost the most.
All groups reported less pain in the knees, but at 18 months the exercise/diet group noted a 51% reduction in pain (twice the reduction of the other two). Furthermore, 40% of those in the diet and exercise group rated their pain at only 0 or 1 out of 10.
Functional status including walking speed improved in 50% of the combined exercise and diet group!
So, LESS PAIN, ABLE TO FUNCTION BETTER!
And they didn't even study the incidence of breast cancer, but we now know those women who lose weight and regularly exercise also will have fewer breast cancers.
454 overweight and obese people (72% women) with an average BMI of 33 (e.g. 5'5" and 200#) and an average age of 66 years were randomized into 3 groups: intensive diet (maintaining >10% weight loss), moderate exercise (two 15 minute walks and 20 minutes of weight training 3 times a week) or both.
Each group lost weight, but the group both dieting and exercising lost the most.
All groups reported less pain in the knees, but at 18 months the exercise/diet group noted a 51% reduction in pain (twice the reduction of the other two). Furthermore, 40% of those in the diet and exercise group rated their pain at only 0 or 1 out of 10.
Functional status including walking speed improved in 50% of the combined exercise and diet group!
So, LESS PAIN, ABLE TO FUNCTION BETTER!
And they didn't even study the incidence of breast cancer, but we now know those women who lose weight and regularly exercise also will have fewer breast cancers.
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