One in eight Alberta women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, making the disease the second most common cancer for women in the province after lung cancer.
One in eight Alberta women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, making the disease the second most common cancer for women in the province after lung cancer. Alberta Health Services is sending a mobile screen test mammography unit to Lac La Biche from Feb. 26 to March 6.
Screen test community coordinator Harmony McRae says women ages 50 to 74 are the age group most at risk of developing breast cancer. As a result they need to get screening mammograms every two years.
A screening mammogram looks for breast cancer when it's in quite an early stage and that's why we say that women don't just need to have a first mammogram or one mammogram - they need to have regular mammograms every two years," she said, explaining that The mammogram can find the cancer when the cells form a lump two to three millimetres large whereas a lump would need to grow to a quarter of an inch for it to be felt. "A mammogram can find cancer two to three years before it's large enough to be felt by a doctor. When we find cancer that early it's a lot easier to treat it and the outcomes are a lot better."
Women ages 40 to 49 can also get a screening mammogram with a referral from their healthcare provider if they choose to start getting checked earlier. Women ages 75 and older can continue to get screening mammograms if their doctor thinks it is necessary.
About 80 per cent of women who are diagnosed have no family history at all, says McRae making it important for women to get screened when they need to, but to also have a "life plan" for their breast health.
"At every age you should know what you need to be looking for and how you should take care of your breasts," she said. "We do tell women under the age of 40 that they should be getting a regular clinical breast exam by their healthcare provider and that can be as often as they need. If they do have problem, then their healthcare provider should send them for follow up testing as needed."
Though many women do self-exams, McRae says they're not very reliable. Instead, she recommends visiting a healthcare professional regularly so they can do a clinical exam and explain what is normal and what to keep an eye on.
Some symptoms that can indicate a visit to the doctor is necessary include lumps, dimpling in the skin, unusual discharge or a rash.
There are risk factors that women can't change such as age and family history. However, there are lifestyle choices that can help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer, McRae said. Being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol intake and quitting smoking can all help. Limiting the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to under five years - a combination of estrogen and progestin to treat menopause symptoms - also reduces the risk. Within two years of stopping the HRT the risk of breast cancer goes down to average. Breastfeeding and having children before the age of 30 are risk reducers as well.
The mammography unit is in Lac La Biche Feb. 26 to March 6 at the William J. Cadzow Health Centre. To make an appointment call 1-800-667-0604.
