What to know about breast cancer
October may be known for Halloween treats, haunted houses and spooky costumes — but it’s also known for something much bigger: Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
And, it's for good reason. Looking at just a few statistics about breast cancer can be shocking.
Risk factors for breast cancer
If you have one or more breast cancer risk factors, you might be more likely to develop it. But, just because you have some risk factors, that doesn't necessarily mean you will develop breast cancer.
Other risk factors such as having a personal or family history of breast cancer also puts you at risk. However, 85 percent of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.
Breast cancer screenings
Recent research suggests that cancer is on the rise among adults under the age of 50. Early onset cases of several cancers, including breast cancer, are among those that have increased worldwide since about 1990. Experts suspect that our increasingly sedentary lifestyles and the prevalence of processed food in our diet could be the culprit.
That is why the American Cancer Society recommends that women between ages 40 and 44 with an average risk of breast cancer — which is most women — should consider beginning screening for breast cancer with a mammogram every year. Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year. It may be a good idea to talk about your risk factors with your primary care provider (PCP) before age 40, just in case you need to start screening early.
Preventive mammograms are typically covered at 100 percent by Wellmark health insurance plans. Just be sure to use an in-network provider and log in to myWellmark® to check your benefits before making the appointment. At age 55, you may be able to limit preventive mammograms to every other year. They should continue for as long as you're in good health.
Need to check preventive care benefits or find a doctor?
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield members can keep tabs on their coverage, see what benefits they've used, find an in-network doctor and much more. It's all available in myWellmark, the secure member portal.
If you have questions about mammogram screenings, talk to your PCP.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer
Mammograms can detect tumors before they can be felt, so yearly screenings are key to early detection. However, it's important for women to be aware of the look and feel of their breasts, so they can talk to their doctor about any changes. You should perform a self-examination of your breasts at least once a month and make note of any changes you find. This can be done in front of a mirror or in the shower.
Some signs and symptoms of breast cancer you should know, are:
- A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue.
- Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast.
- Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling.
- A newly inverted nipple.
- Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin.
- Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange.
Equity in breast cancer care
While white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer in their lifetime, Black women are more likely to develop a more aggressive and more advanced-stage breast cancer that is often diagnosed at a young age. Black women are also more likely to die from breast cancer than any other ethnic group. In fact, Black women have the lowest five-year survival rate compared to all other racial and ethnic groups for every stage and subtype of breast cancer.
This variation in outcomes can be attributed to less access to mammograms and lower quality medical care, as well as other social determinants of health, such as access to healthy, non-processed food.
Lifestyle changes can help prevent breast cancer
The American Cancer Society recommends making lifestyle changes such as adopting a more active lifestyles, lowering your alcohol consumption and adhering to the recommended mammogram schedule as some of the best ways to help prevent breast cancer.
A PCP can help schedule screenings and review risk factors.
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