Pink Prescriptions - October 2024
Educate to Eradicate: We're Spilling the Tea on Your TaTas
October 2024 Issue — Pink Prescriptions
Educate to Eradicate
We're Spilling the Tea on Your TaTas
As a woman, can you ever know enough about breast cancer? We think not, which is why we asked local experts to tell us more. It is of utmost importance to educate yourself all you can. After all, knowing your risks and early detection can saves lives—maybe yours!
By Dr. Rochelle Ringer
Hilton Head Hospital Breast Health Center
Screening Beyond Mammogram
Every woman should get a mammogram starting at age 40 and then should get a mammogram once a year. In my opinion, this is the best way to find breast cancer early and save lives. And yes, getting a mammogram could literally save your life. It could also potentially limit the amount of treatment you need if you’re found to have breast cancer.
But is it enough? What else is out there?
Do I need more than this? Is it bad to do more?
There are a number of different breast cancer screening tools beyond mammogram. We know that women who have dense breast tissue have a higher chance that mammogram can miss cancer and are at higher risk for breast cancer. The two major imaging options beyond mammogram are ultrasound and breast MRI.
Ultrasound uses sound waves to image the breast. There is no radiation, and the breast is not compressed (AKA not painful). Ultrasound was first used on the breast in 1951, and its purpose was to look at specific masses to help determine if they were cancer. Screening breast ultrasound, meaning the use of ultrasound when there are no identified problems, has been more recent. Screening breast ultrasound can be done by a technician or by a machine called ABUS. Screening breast ultrasound can find cancers that mammograms mis—especially in women with dense breast tissue—but it can also find things that need to be biopsied and end up not being cancer. This is called a false positive. This can hurt—both physically and financially. For every 1000 women who have a screening breast ultrasound, 6-7 additional cancers are found (beyond mammogram).
Breast MRI uses strong magnetic waves to image the breast. As with ultrasound, there is no radiation, and the breast is not compressed. With MRI, a woman is lying on her stomach, gets dye through an IV, and goes in and out of the MRI. MRI was first used for breast cancer in 1984. It is often used in women with breast cancer or who are at high risk. Standard MRI can be very expensive, and most women can’t afford standard MRI, but recently there have been innovations that have opened up MRI to more people. We now have abbreviated breast MRI which is similar in cost to screening breast ultrasound. Abbreviated MRI takes less images than the standard, but still gives a ton of information. For every 1000 women who have breast MRI, 16-23 cancers are found. Breast MRI can have false positives just like ultrasound. People who are claustrophobic might have a difficult time with MRI. People who have metal in their body can’t have MRI. So, MRI isn’t an option for everyone but is an option for many women.
In my experience, MRI provides excellent insights for my patients. I would recommend speaking with a provider about your options.
If you have a family history of breast cancer, then you may need a more in depth conversation about screening and prevention. For women who have family history, I recommend evaluation with a breast surgeon such as myself to talk about your care.
By Dr. Rochelle Ringer | Medical Director – Hilton Head Hospital Breast Health Center, Associate Professor of Surgery MUSC
By Dawn Seligman McKay, LMT, MLD-C, OMT
Massage & Recovery
How can a trained oncology massage therapist help me throughout my breast cancer journey?
Cancer patients at almost every stage of their journey can find comfort at the hands of a skilled massage therapist. Oncology massage is an approach to massage therapy based in both compassion and specialized massage treatments to help people manage their experience with cancer. Wherever you are in your journey with cancer, from pain management, fatigue and nausea to managing the effects that can linger years after treatment, oncology massage can help. Oncology massage is a modification of existing massage therapy techniques in order to safely work with complications of cancer and cancer treatment. A trained oncology therapist knows how to work with those going through active treatment with ports, radiation, and chemotherapy. They can also treat side effects related to cancer treatment such as peripheral neuropathy, DVT, Lymphedema and scar and tissue issues. Experienced therapists know when to give a massage and where, and when not give one and why.
After treatment is finished many people experience long-lasting side effects, such as lymphedema, fibrotic tissue, scars, range of motion issues, tightness in the chest/neck/arms, or neuropathy in hands or feet. A trained therapist can work with individuals to help relieve these side effects and teach them how to manage their issues at home.
When looking for a massage therapist while going through the cancer journey make sure they have worked with cancer patients and are trained in oncology massage. When working with Lymphedema, the therapist should be certified. Throughout the cancer experience a massage will be the healing touch you need and deserve.
Dawn Seligman McKay, LMT, MLD-C, OMT has practiced as a Massage Therapist for 24 years—15 of those years with specialized Oncology and Hospital Massage. A cancer survivor and thriver herself, Dawn understands the immense toll this journey can take and customizes her sessions to best fit patients’ needs and provide a myriad of benefits to enhance the healing process. Dawn specializes in breast and head/neck cancers. Call today to learn more: 317-691-8616; Massage & Recovery, 70 Pennington Drive, Suite 16C, Bluffton.
By Dr. Tara Grahovac, FACS
Beaufort Memorial Breast Care & Surgery Program
What are the risk factors for developing breast cancer? Are there preventative measures I can use to minimize my risk for the disease?
Knowing your risk of developing breast cancer is an important step in protecting your overall health. The American Cancer Society estimates that 310,720 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024—including 5,840 South Carolinians.
The statistics seem jarring, but there’s a lot that you can do to decrease your risk of developing breast cancer. While some risk factors—genetics and age, for example—can’t be helped, others can be managed through lifestyle changes.
Risk factors outside of your control include:
• Being of advanced age
• Having a family history of breast or ovarian cancer in your close relatives
• Having a history of breast cancer or certain noncancerous breast conditions
• Having been treated with radiation therapy or
being otherwise exposed to ionized radiation
• Having dense breasts
• Having inherited gene mutations, such as mutations to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes
• Menstruating before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55
• Never having a full-term pregnancy or having a first pregnancy after age 35
Your risk may also be higher if you:
• Are overweight or obese, particularly after menopause
• Are physically inactive
• Drink alcohol
• Smoke
• Take hormone replacement therapy after menopause
• Use oral contraceptives
Lowering your risk
While you can’t change your family medical history or your age, you can lower your risk of developing breast cancer by managing the lifestyle-related factors you can control.
• Eat healthy: A largely plant-based diet, filling at least half your plate at meals with fruits and vegetables, is tied to a lower risk of many cancers and other health conditions.
• Exercise more: Being physically active lowers your breast cancer risk. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. That means briskly walking, dancing, gardening or jogging for just 30 minutes a day, five days per week.
• Limit alcohol consumption: Research shows that drinking even a small amount of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer. Stick with the recommended amount of no more than one drink per day for women.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Staying at a healthy weight is important throughout your entire life, but especially after menopause. Talk to your provider about what a healthy weight looks like for you.
• Quit smoking: Smoking is harmful for many reasons, and an increased breast cancer risk is just one reason to quit.
• Reconsider your meds: Taking combined hormone replacement therapy (including both estrogen and progesterone) after menopause is tied to a slightly higher risk of breast cancer in some cases. Talk with your OBGYN or another medical provider about whether you should consider changing your contraception or medications.
Your risk factors aren’t the end-all, be-all to determine whether you’ll develop breast cancer. However, knowing your risk can help you make educated choices about your health care and lifestyle.
Finally, if you’re 40 or older, make sure you’re scheduling annual mammograms. Screenings can make a huge impact because the earlier we catch cancer, the better the outcome you’ll have.
Dr. Tara Grahovac, FACS, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained breast surgical oncologist and practices with the Beaufort Memorial Breast Care & Surgery Program based at the hospital’s Breast Health Center in Okatie.
The Lowcountry’s Largest Breast Cancer Awareness Event
Please join us on October 10th from 5 - 7:30 for our
Annual Pretty in Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Pink Partini.
Surround yourself in a sea of Pink love and celebration!
Click here for more information.