Why screen for breast cancer?

Because it works!

Enough said?  Numerous studies have demonstrated lives saved by screening mammography (See previous blog posts by typing in mammography in the search box at the right)!  But the guidelines are for the general population at risk and now we can refine the recommendation, by taking your clinical and genetic uniqueness into account and refine the screening plan to make it just right for you!

The screening plan that is modified to your risk!

Imagine!  More cancers uncovered and less stress of false positive (finding something that look like cancer but isn't).  For some that may mean a breast MRI, for some another type of breast imaging, but for most whole breast ultrasound (see previous blog posts)!  For some women, more often (six month exams) for some less often (maybe even even 2 years as the paper sited in yesterday's blog suggested).

How do we arrive at individualized screening?

• BRACAnalysis
• BREVGen Risk Assessment
• HALO Breast Pap Test
• Breast density on mammogram

We begin with the above results, but each one test may not apply to everyone, but one or more of them may be right for you.  Each one will be the subject of upcoming posts, so come back tomorrow!

Remember the only thing better than early detection is prevention, so do something today to lower your risk for breast cancer like being active: get up and walk 5 minutes out of every hour you sit at our desk, or try a standing desk or exercise ball or park far away from the door!

Together we can prevent at least 86,000 breast cancers this year!

This is general content and not personal medical advice, but if you can't wait to find out which test might be right for you call us 512-451-5788.

Making sense of Breast Cancer Screening

You have probably been reading a lot about screening mammography recently, notably http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleID=1669103, Outcomes of Screening Mammography by Frequency, Breast Density, and Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy.  So now, add this article to the many others showing the benefits of screening mammograms and try to make sense of them all.

The importance of the article was missed by most news reporting: that screening in young women (40-49 years) does, in the authors' words, "minimize their risk of advanced-stage disease".  Further, they point out that more mammograms mean more false positives at any age; the price of routine screening mammography.

But, in this blog, we have been talking about personalized medicine: which screening is the right choice for which woman?  Personal screening recommendation fit for her personal risk.  And now Dr Otis Brawley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society recommends "There may be some women who need to be screened every six months and others every two years depending on breast density, family history and genetic testing" (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/19/us-cancer-breast-mammograms-idUSBRE92I00720130319 see, in particular, paragraph five and six).

There are "guidelines" for screening for breast cancer, including one of the most powerful tools we have, mammography.

BUT, they are just guidelines.  Find out which screening plan is best for you, based on your personal history, family history and genetics.

We have the tools to enable personalized breast cancer screening for each woman and will discuss these, this week and the next.

For now, do something to lower your risk for breast cancer, because prevention is even better than early detection!  GO FOR A WALK!  And tune in tomorrow for more.


Together we can prevent at least 86,000 breast cancer cases this year!


This is general content and not personal medical advice, so check with your breast doctor.

More breast cancer in younger women.

You may have heard on the news or read in the NYTimes http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/health/advanced-breast-cancer-may-be-rising-among-young-women-study-finds.html?hpw&_r=0 that a recent study found an increase in breast cancers in young women.  This is a small, but important increase since 1976 in women aged 25 to 39 years.  What is even more distressing is the sentiment expressed the 6th paragraph in the NYTimes piece that the researchers in this study say they can't offer young women anything but quick action if they have a lump.

FORTUNATELY, that just isn't correct!  Young women have many options, BEFORE the breast cancer happens.  We do all of these tests.

First, some of these young women will have a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer and should consider the genetic test BRACAnalysis.  Although the number of women to whom this test applies is small, it is important to let your doctor know about a family history of these cancers: breast, ovarian, male with breast cancer, relative with triple negative breast cancer, pancreatic, prostate, uterine, colon or other intestinal cancer and melanoma.  Again, most young women with a family history will not have the gene mutation, but about 10% will, so tell your doctor your family history.  You may find more at www.owenwinsettmd.com under "What We Do".

Second, for the larger number of women, particularly with no family history, there is the BREAVAGen Risk Assessment Test.  This test applies to women at 35 years.
It is a cheek swab plus clinical history.  You may find more at http://brevagen.com.

The third test we have to offer that "finds" young women at higher risk is the HALO Breast Pap Test.  This test is for anyone beginning at age 21 years.  Nipple fluid is tested that is obtained from a breast pump.  You may read more at http://www.halohc.com/halonaf/NAF-Collection.aspx.


We do have something to offer younger women before the cancer happens.  WE offer each of these tests.  If your physician does not, then call us at 512-451-5788.

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases this year!  Tell your friends!

This is general content and not personal medical advice.

To reduce your risk for breast cancer!

What have you done today to reduce your risk for ever getting breast cancer?

• Exercised in the gym 
• Walked around the block
• Had some protein at breakfast to keep you from being hungry too soon
• Got up from your desk for a 5 minute walk every hour
• Sat on an exercise ball
• Ate an apple at lunch
• Planned a dinner to include Brussels sprouts or broccoli
• Had your Omega3's (www.oewmd.com)
• Planned to sleep 7 hours tonight
• Told a friend about the blog
• Encouraged a friend by telling them what you did today!

Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases each year!

This is general content and not personal medical advise.

Know your BREAST DENSITY!!

It is important and empowering to know your breast density.  

A recent example provides adequate reason:

A woman had a mammogram read as dense breast tissue: negative.  She inquired of her ordering physician and he ordered another test to "see" through the dense breast tissue and ultimately sonographic guided biopsy diagnosed the tiny cancer "hidden" from the mammogram.  

If you have dense breast tissue, it is your right, in Texas and many other states (see prior blog post http://drwinsett.blogspot.com/2012/01/more-about-whole-breast-ultrasound-and.html) to demand further work-up.  In most cases a whole breast ultrasound or sonogram finds the cancer that the mammogram can't "see" because of density.  Mammograms are still the gold standard for screening, but if the breast tissue is dense then supplemental screening may be beneficial, and in most cases whole breast ultrasound is the answer.

Keep up the good work!  If you know someone who is told that she has dense breast tissue, suggest that she ask her physician to order a whole breast ultrasound.  We do them every day.  The next best thing to prevention is early detection and whole breast ultrasound can find tiny breast cancers.


Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancers each year!


The content is general and not personal medical advice, but if you have dense breast tissue on mammogram, ask your doctor to order supplemental screening or call me: 512-451-5788

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION: A NEW PRIORITY?

The headline yesterday, too little money is prioritized for breast cancer prevention research, caught my eye and perhaps yours, too.  That is the conclusion of the Interagency Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Coordinating Committee made up of both federal and nonfederal scientists and patient advocates, co-chaired by Dr Michele Forman here at UT.  You may read a summary of the 270 page report at http://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/boards/ibcercc/#.URo2xzP3dAk.mailto.

This recent report is, undoubtedly, a reaction to what the government spends (or doesn't spend) on breast cancer prevention.  (By the way, I didn't hear anything about "the state" of spending for breast cancer prevention last night.)  According to online data from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) only 13% of the money spent on breast cancer research in 2011 was spent on prevention.  For the government's definition of breast cancer prevention and the specific money numbers go to http://fundedresearch.cancer.gov/search/SearchForm.

The NCI was set up in 1937 to be the principal agency for cancer research in the US.  For more about the NCI go to: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/NCI/research-funding.

BUT, considering that, what do we already know about breast cancer prevention?  

A LOT!

We have reviewed in this blog how to prevent 86,000 breast cancers each year!

• BE LEAN
• REGULARLY EXERCISE
• BE ACTIVE
• OMEGA3 FISH OIL
• ASPIRIN 
• CRUCIFORM VEGETABLES
• LIMIT RED MEAT
• LIMIT ALCOHOL
• INCREASE OR DECREASE SOY INTAKE (AGE DEPENDANT)
• DECREASE DIETARY FAT
• LIMIT HORMONE REPLACEMENT
• ANTI-ESTROGEN PRESCRIPTIONS
• QUIT SMOKING OR BEING AROUND SMOKERS

If we all did these things, there would be 38% fewer breast cancers this year!

Share this message with your friends and family so that we may,indeed, all together, prevent 86,000 breast cancers this year!

This is general medical content and not personal medical advice.  See your doctor and ask about breast cancer prevention or call me 512-451-5788.  For the highest quality omega3 I could find go to www.oewmd.com.

Recent "Headline" about exercise!

You may have heard or seen the "headline" Kaiser Permanente doctors are now including exercise in their medical record.  One place you can read about their "new revelation" that exercise is important is http://www.sfgate.com/default/article/Physicians-learn-to-ask-about-exercise-4171657.php.

I am so happy that this large group of doctors has now learned the importance of exercise!

(We, at the Breast Center of Austin, have included exercise as part of the medical record since 2002!)

Why? 

BECAUSE REGULAR EXERCISE IS IMPORTANT FOR BREAST CANCER PREVENTION!



Together we can prevent 86,000 breast cancer cases this year!


This content is general and not personal medical advice.