Breast Cancer: Beyond the Fear

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women aged 40-59. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, approximately 180,000 women will be diagnosed this year, and about 40,000 will die from it. But there’s good news, too: Most women who are diagnosed early will survive.

In this show, Suzanne and Marisa Weiss, M.D., a radiation oncologist and president of the nonprofit Internet-based organization, breastcancer.org, discuss the fears women have regarding breast cancer detection and treatment.

Many women are fearful of doing a Breast Self-Exam (BSEs) or of getting a mammogram. Some think they won’t be able to do a BSE correctly, or that if they find a lump, it’s an automatic death sentence. Others are fearful that a mammogram will be painful. Out of plain fear or "it can’t happen to me" attitude, they are avoiding doing the very things that could give the best chance for survival if breast cancer is present.

According to Dr. Weiss and other breast health experts, fear of breast cancer is quite normal, but it shouldn’t prevent you from doing what needs to be done. Your fears are often much worse than reality, making you jump to the worst possible conclusions. If you are afraid of a diagnosis of breast cancer, remember that not doing anything will put you in a very bad position. If you’ve already been diagnosed, learn as much as you can about your particular circumstances, ask questions, and seek out others who are going through or have gone through breast cancer treatment. By having a community of women with the same fears and problems, you’ll feel more able to deal with your situation.

Breast health experts recommend performing a Breast Self-Exam once a month. If you are still having regular periods, perform the exam about five to seven days after the period starts. If you are post menopausal, have had a hysterectomy, or are on hormone replacement therapy, pick a day of the month that’s easy to remember (like your birthday) and perform the exam on that day.

In addition to the BSE, make sure your family physician or ob/gyn performs a clinical breast exam every year. After 40, most health experts agree that women should get yearly mammographies. The goal of these three screening exams is to find breast cancer before symptoms present.