MDHHS continues to highlight National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

For Immediate Release: October 21, 2016

LANSING, Mich. – In Michigan, it is estimated there will be 8,150 new cases of breast cancer and that 1,410 women will die from the disease in 2016. To encourage early diagnosis and reduce health disparities, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging all women to talk to their physician about their individual risk factors.

“It’s important for women to know their risk for breast cancer and to talk to their physician about screening,” said Dr. Eden Wells, chief medical executive of MDHHS. “As women, our risk for breast cancer increases as we get older. Having extremely dense breast tissue, which can mask or hide breast cancer, increases your risk as does having a personal or family history of breast cancer.”            

Women can limit their risk by incorporating healthy behaviors in their lives and getting regular breast cancer screenings. Healthy behaviors that will help lower a woman’s risk include increasing physical activity, quitting smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol use.

The Michigan Cancer Consortium, MDHHS, and the American Cancer Society recommend:

• Women should be able to start screening as early as age 40, if they want to. It’s a good idea to start talking to your health care provider at age 40 about when you should begin screening.
• Most women have an average risk of breast cancer and should begin yearly mammograms by age 45.
• While breast exams, either from a medical provider or self-exams, are no longer recommended, all women should be familiar with how their breasts normally look and report any changes to a health care provider right away. 

African American women are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age, and at a later stage, than white women. Late stage diagnoses may be due to lower frequency of mammograms, greater intervals of time between mammograms, and less consistent follow-up of suspicious mammogram results. Compared to white women, African American women also have a higher death rate from breast cancer and across all stages of cancer diagnosis.  African American women are more likely to be diagnosed with Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (a cancer that doesn’t respond to certain chemotherapies).

Women should also know their family history of cancer. Approximately 5-10 percent of breast cancer is inherited due to genetic factors. Also, for women who are identified at an increased risk for developing breast cancer (and not previously diagnosed), three medications have been approved to reduce breast cancer risk: Tamoxifen, Raloxifene, and Exemestane. Women should discuss the risks and benefits of these medications, in addition to possible lifestyle changes, with their doctor. 

Talk with your health care provider about healthy lifestyles and breast cancer prevention and screening. If someone you know needs help with breast cancer information and screening, call 1-844-I-GOT-SCR (446-8727) for more information.

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