Let’s get this off our chest

Not every female diagnosed with breast cancer has to have a mastectomy, that is, have a breast removed.

One in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their life time. While these statistics might seem high, thanks to the recent advances in technology, these numbers are declining.

When you think of breast cancer, you usually don’t think of a male being diagnosed, but they do account for less than 1 percent of diagnoses.

Like many other medical diagnoses, early detection is the key to fighting breast cancer. “Mammograms alone are not enough to screen for breast cancer. Everyone should have routine breast exams performed by their physician, according to Dr. Hemant Patel of Northwest Alabama Cancer Center.

Let’s look at some of the risk factors, screenings and treatment options for breast cancer.

RISK FACTOR

Family History

Smoking

Alcohol

Lack of Exercise

Overweight

SCREENING PROCESS

Mammogram

Scans

Lab workup

Breast Exam by Physicians

TREATMENT OPTIONS

Surgery

Chemotherapy

Radiation

Hormone Therapy

Targeted Therapy

WAYS TO LOWER RISK

Exercise

Avoid Alcohol

Routine Breast Exams

We’ll stand by you!

“Breast Cancer diagnosis and treatment are rapidly changing,” explained Dr. James P. Daugherty, Northwest Alabama Cancer Center. “The diagnosis used to be made by looking at a slide with the microscope, and treatment was surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. We now have immune therapy, targeted therapy, risk assessment and genetic analysis, which all help to individualize treatment and to minimize unnecessary or non-effective ones.

“We are proud to bring these new treatment modalities to the Shoals area.”