SAN ANTONIO – One in 8 girls within the United States will increase breast cancer in her lifetime.
Dr. Shraddha Dalwadi, a breast radiation oncologist with UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, joined Leading SA Sunday to provide an explanation for what our native families should know about Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Dalwadi started by means of record some chance elements many ladies face.
“Some risk factors are not preventable, such as age. Older women are more at risk in being a woman. Other risk factors are preventable, such as obesity, never having pregnant or having a first child at an older age. The use of hormone replacement pills. Other risk factors are radiation exposure or a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer,” Dalwadi mentioned.
Although the dangers will also be intimidating, Dalwadi additionally shared some preventative measures like getting assessments.
“Women of average risk should begin getting their mammogram at age 40. They should get it every 1 to 2 years. But if you have a history of radiation or many people in your family have been diagnosed with breast cancer, I would encourage you to speak to your physician to see if you qualify for earlier screening,” Dalwadi mentioned.
For the ones preventative measures to be instilled, sufferers should go back to the clinics.
In San Antonio, the pandemic not on time a large number of families from ensuring they had been up-to-date on their check-ups.
“Honestly, in San Antonio, we’re really catching up. Since the COVID era, when the pandemic was at its height, making sure that women are getting back into clinics and getting their mammograms on time,” Dalwadi mentioned.
Dalwaldi went on to provide an explanation for the other types of assessments that you simply and your family members want.
“A 2D mammogram has been the standard of care for decades and honestly is able to detect most cancers. A 3D mammogram is now the standard at most modern facilities because they’re able to acquire images in different angles and provide more information on how concerning a lesion it is. So think about requesting a 3D mammogram. If you have dense breast tissue or a strong family history and are just overall at a higher risk of getting that diagnosis. If you’re getting your mammogram at a specialized center, especially one with an experienced breast radiologist, you’re going to be in good hands,” Dalwadi mentioned.
Obviously, some dangers are unavoidable, however there are methods to raised save you breast cancer.
“Eating a nutritious, healthy diet, exercising, limiting alcohol, visiting your doctor for regular exams, and of course doing your mammograms for screening on time will lower your risks of being diagnosed with advanced breast cancer,” Dalwadi mentioned.
Lastly, Dalwadi mentioned if in case you have any questions about screenings, ask your physician.
“Most women with breast cancer will actually qualify for genetic screening based on the most recent guidelines. But for women without a breast cancer diagnosis, it’s less clear. And genetic counseling may not be needed if you have a strong family history of cancer. It would be worth talking to your primary care doctor to see if you would be able to get genetic screening to better understand your risk,” Dalwadi mentioned.
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