In a nutshell, my BC Awareness Month soapbox spiel goes something like this: "Don't put off screening, because it could save your life." Not to get dramatic or anything.
Mammograms and Self Exams
Because I have a family history of breast cancer, I got a baseline mammogram in my mid-thirties and then went in for a mammogram every 12 months starting at age 40. I also did monthly self-exams.
My annual mammogram in January, 2011 was just fine. 12 months later in January, 2012, my mammogram detected the presence of cancer. So in the course of those 12 months, invasive cancer took hold. Had I waited 18 or 24 months instead of going in after 12, I don't know whether I would have been significantly worse off (if at all). But I'm glad I didn't put off getting the mammogram.
There's still quite a bit of debate about which women under 50 should receive mammograms. So the other part of my PSA is, "Read credible sources of information on this topic and talk with your doctor about when you should get mammograms."
And don't forget to do the DIY thing at home! Although I was not able to detect my cancer through that method, many women are.
MRIs and Self Advocacy
Earlier this year I asked my oncologist if I could have not just an annual mammogram but an annual breast MRI. This is because last year it took a breast MRI to detect the invasive cancer (the mammogram caught the stage 0, non-invasive cancer only). After everything I went through last year, I wanted more than just an annual mammogram as a screening tool going forward (no scans or blood tests were on the screening schedule, either).
Breast MRIs are not standard screening tools for most women, even ones with a history of breast cancer - they're notorious for over-reporting findings and leading to unnecessary biopsies.
But my oncologist agreed, and I started a screening schedule of a mammogram in February and an MRI in August. It just so happened this August that the breast MRI picked up on something in my liver that required further investigation. And here I am. I feel both lucky and unlucky.
I'm not saying that I think women should get breast MRIs, or that my case is typical. But I'm glad I asked my doctor questions, presented my ideas and asked for what I wanted.
Family History and Other Factors
When women who both haven't had cancer and don't have a family history of breast cancer learn that I do have a family history, I know that they relax a little. I totally get that.
However, although I've read varying statistics on this, women with a family history of breast cancer make up only about 5-7% of all women with breast cancer. Even women like me who have breast cancer in the family cannot necessarily chalk up their cancer to "family inheritance" (it takes someone trained in genetic analysis to analyze a bunch of stuff to determine this).
Unfortunately plenty of thin non-smokers who eat well, exercise, drink moderately or not at all, manage their stress well, did not get their periods early or go through menopause late, do their best to avoid environmental carcinogens, breastfed their babies and haven't taken hormones get breast cancer. (And we know that men can get breast cancer, as well).
I absolutely think it's worth doing what we can to reduce our risk of getting the disease, but, as we know, shit happens. I don't know what exactly caused my cancer. I've been given wise advice, however, not to blame myself.
88% of women do not get breast cancer. But that still leaves too many who do. If you know someone who has her head in the sand about breast cancer detection, whether she does so out of fear, distraction, lack of knowledge or lack of insurance, please urge her to get the screening she needs. It really could save her life.
