Join The Fight Against Breast Cancer

Discover local events and resources supporting those affected by the disease—and learn why keeping up with screening matters.
Cheryl De Leon,
2 Fight Breast Cancer

It’s always a good time to support breast-cancer research, as the disease is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. (behind skin cancer). One in every eight women will develop it in their lifetimes. But the rallying cry is particularly loud in October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when we celebrate survivors, listen to the stories of those undergoing treatment, spread the word about early detection and raise money toward a cure.

We’ve rounded up some of the events happening this month, along with local charities worth knowing about if you’re looking for a way to lend your support. And because awareness is also about knowing what steps you can take for your own health, we’re bringing together the key takeaways from our recent health feature on mammograms — including what to know about screening and why staying on top of it matters.

If you can’t make it to these events, consider supporting these nonprofits that provide services to breast-cancer patients, survivors and their families:

Beyond awareness walks and support groups, women are encouraged this month to consider a mammogram, as early detection is still one of the best defenses against breast cancer. But for something so routinely recommended, mammograms can still raise plenty of questions. MONMOUTH spoke with Genevieve A. Fasano, M.D., a breast surgeon at Monmouth Medical Center, to separate fact from fiction and tackle some of the most common misconceptions surrounding mammograms. For instance:

Myth: “Mammograms are extremely painful.”

One reason many women delay scheduling a mammogram is the fear of physical discomfort. While breast compression can be uncomfortable, the experience varies from person to person, and the compression itself lasts only a few seconds for each image.

The compression that women may feel helps create clearer images while also reducing the amount of radiation needed to produce those images. If the compression during testing creates significant pain, however, the patient can ask the technician to make adjustments. In addition, the doctor says that timing your mammogram for when your breasts are less tender may help make the experience more comfortable. “Optimizing scheduling can help reduce the chance of pain,” Dr. Fasano says. “It is best not to schedule a mammogram in and around your menstrual period as the breasts can become swollen or tender during this time.”

Myth: “Having dense breasts means something is wrong with your breasts.”

The term “dense breasts” can sound concerning, but breast density is not a disease or an abnormality. It describes the relative amounts of fibrous and glandular tissue compared with fatty tissue in the breast. Dr. Fasano says having dense breasts is “extremely common, occurring in nearly half of women over 40.”

There are, however, two important things women should know about breast density. First, dense breast tissue is itself a risk factor for breast cancer. Second, it can make some cancers more difficult to see on a mammogram because dense tissue and many breast abnormalities both appear white on the image.

But that doesn’t mean mammography stops being useful. Medical professionals agree a mammogram is still the best screening tool for all women, including those with dense breasts. Mammograms can still identify many cancers in women with dense breasts, and newer technology can improve the ability to detect abnormalities. Three-dimensional mammography, also known as tomosynthesis, can be particularly useful in women with dense breast tissue.

For the rest of Dr. Fasano’s advice in the October issue of MONMOUTH.

 

Categories: Monmouth Health & Life