Breast Cancer Risks & Warning Signs for Seniors

In recent years, the prevalence of the color pink during October has become a nationwide symbol of the fight to end breast cancer. In the 1950s, the NY Times refused to print an ad for a breast cancer support group. They did not want to print the words, “breast” or “cancer”. The fight to bring this disease into the spotlight has made huge strides since then, but there is still more to be done.

The American Cancer Society reports that in 2018, 1.7 million people will receive a diagnosis of cancer. That means that every day 4,750 people will hear this devastating news and 1,670 will die each day. To put it into even more perspective, three new cases are diagnosed each minute, and one person will die each minute.

While those numbers are quite jolting to hear, there is good news. The chief medical officer for the ACS, Otis Brawley, MD, has said that overall there has been a significant decline in the cancer death rate over recent years. That decline includes differences in gender, race and ethnicity.

Of that 1.7 million, the highest number of cancer diagnoses (268,670) will be breast cancer. Of that number 41,400 will succumb to the disease, making it the fourth deadliest after lung/bronchus, colorectal and pancreatic cancers.

The mission of the American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen foundation and a host of other charities is to raise funds and awareness to fuel research and prevention of breast cancer. The end goal is to eliminate breast cancer for good. While research continues to bring new light to the causes and risks of the disease, individual efforts to identify signs and symptoms early is still one of the best methods to fight breast cancer.

Knowing the risks and warning signs of breast cancer are crucial to early detection and intervention.

There are some risk factors that are out of our control: namely the aging process and being a woman. Older women are the highest group for diagnosis, with women over age 55 being most likely to have breast cancer. More research and study is needed, but the timing of when a woman goes into menopause appears to be a factor. A later onset of menopause exposes a woman to increased amounts of estrogen, which might contribute to this diagnosis.

Women should begin home breast exams as early as possible. Knowing how your breasts look and feel normally is a good barometer should anything change. Things will change as women age, so knowing the difference between changes due to normal aging and something irregular can be lifesaving.

The most common symptom of breast cancer is the appearance of a new mass or lump in the breast. The mass can be tender and soft, or hard with uneven edges. There may or may not be sensitivity and pain with this new mass. If you don’t feel pain, you should not assume the lump is benign – ask your health provider to check it. Other possible signs of breast cancer include:

• Redness or thickening of the nipple or skin
• Discharge (that is not breast milk)
• Dimpling or skin irritation
• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Nipple retraction (pulling inward)

Home examinations are important but do not take the place of regular mammograms and screenings. Make breast screenings part of your regular healthcare plan – early detection gives you a better chance for successful treatment.

If you have any questions about breast health or other health concerns, please contact the Wellness Team at the Evergreen Senior Living community nearest you.