Elizabeth Edwards’
Breast Cancer Highlights Need for Early Detection
Behind the Cancer Headlines®
Elizabeth Edwards discovered she had breast cancer the same
day her husband, John Edwards, conceded his bid to be the next vice president
of the
"Timing is critical when it comes to cancer—the sooner it is
detected the better the chance a women has to get successful treatment," said
Sue Hilton, MD, FCAP, a pathologist at St. Paul
Mammograms can help detect cancer before a woman can feel a lump in a self-examination, as well as detect cancers too small to feel during a clinical breast exam.
Hilton, a physician who specializes in treating patients
through laboratory medicine, says all women should monitor their breast health
on a regular basis. The
"Breast cancer can strike women at any age," Hilton said. "It is especially important to start regular screening early if you have a family history of breast cancer."
Other risk factors for breast cancer are:
·
Personal History of Breast Cancer: Women with cancer in one
breast have a higher chance of developing a new cancer (not just a recurrence
of the earlier cancer) in another part of the same breast or in the other
breast.
· Race: While Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer. Asian and Hispanic women have a lower risk of developing breast cancer.
· History of Breast Biopsy: Certain types of abnormal breast biopsy results can be linked to a slightly higher risk for breast cancer.
·
History of Radiation Treatment: Women who had chest area
radiation treatment as children or young women have a significantly increased
risk for breast cancer.
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