Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The Importance of Education and Early Detection | Blog | Oscar | hioscar Blog | Oscar
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The Importance of Education and Early Detection
Learning about your breast cancer risk levels and making a plan with your provider is important for early detection.
General HealthClinically Speaking
4 min read
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to support people facing the disease, and encourage others to get screened. Breast cancer is common in the US: about 297,790 new cases (opens in new tab) of invasive breast cancer and about 55,720 new cases of ductal carcinoma in situ (an early stage breast cancer) are diagnosed each year. Women account for over 99% of cases (opens in new tab), which makes being a woman one of the biggest risk factors for developing breast cancer. While women make up most breast cancer cases, it’s important for people of all gender identities to get screened. A 2023 study revealed (opens in new tab) that when LGBTQIA+ people are diagnosed with breast cancer, they may experience delays in diagnosis and have a higher risk of recurrence. If you’re part of the LGBTQIA+ community, don’t hesitate to reach out to your healthcare provider to talk about screening options, and take an active role in your health.
Other factors that increase the risk include:
Age: Most breast cancers are diagnosed after the age of 50, with the median age being 62.
Genetic mutations: BRCA1 and BRCA2 are genes commonly associated with breast cancer.
Family history: Having a close relative or multiple family members with a history of breast cancer.
Personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast diseases: Such as atypical ductal hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma.
Certain medical treatments: For example, using hormone replacement therapy.
While some people are at a higher risk than others, everyone should be aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Some things to look out for are:
A new lump in the breast or armpit.
Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area of the breast.
Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
Nipple discharge other than breast milk, such as blood.
Any change in the size or shape of the breast.
Pain in any area of the breast.
While these symptoms don’t always mean you have cancer, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know about them right away. Your provider can help you figure out the cause of any changes you’re experiencing. With the support of your provider, you can understand your personal risk factors and how often you should get screened, which can help you find any abnormalities early.
Why early detection matters
Early detection means finding and diagnosing breast cancer sooner than if you’d waited for symptoms to start. When breast cancer is found early, is it much easier to treat.That’s because it’s usually smaller, and hasn’t yet spread outside of the breast. The size of the cancer and how far it’s spread are two of the most important factors of predicting the prognosis (the outlook) for a breast cancer patient.
“Early detection is the key to having the best outcome,” said Raina Alexander, MD FAAFP, a physician at Oscar Medical Group. Starting a conversation with your healthcare provider can support you in detecting potential abnormalities early.
What to know about breast cancer screening
Many people with breast cancer have no symptoms – that’s why regular screening is so important.
“Having regular mammograms provides an excellent reference for comparison for the radiologists reading your mammograms in the future. This aids in early detection,” said Dr Alexander.
Exactly when you need to start getting mammograms depends on your age and risk level. It’s important to chat with your healthcare provider about your unique risk factors to decide the best time to start screening.
During a mammogram, you’ll stand in front of an x-ray machine. A technician will place your breasts, one at a time, between two plates. The plates will press together to help flatten and spread out the tissue (this part can be a bit uncomfortable, but it doesn’t last long). Once you’re set up, the technician will take a picture. Then, they’ll release your breast and reposition it to take a second x-ray from a different angle. Next, they’ll do the whole process again on the other side.
Outlook
When it comes to breast cancer, education is crucial: learning about your risk levels and making an informed plan with your healthcare provider is important for early detection.
If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, support is available. The American Cancer Society offers a free program (opens in new tab) that connects patients with breast cancer survivors, to help those going through cancer talk to someone who’s “been there.” It may also be helpful to ask your healthcare provider to refer you to a mental health specialist, who can support you through this time, or to find a local support group to lean on. If you’re an Oscar member, you can reach your Care Team at 1-855-672-2788, or message them in your Oscar app, for help navigating your mental health benefits.
Oscar can support you in scheduling an appointment with your healthcare provider, so that you can start understanding your risk level and prevention strategies.
