10-14-08

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the leading cancer diagnosed in American women. Early detection is the key to overcoming the disease.

Each year more than 180,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer.  Dr. Robert Mocharnuk (Mah’-chur-nuck), associate professor of hematology and oncology at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says more women are now surviving breast cancer.

SOUND BITE: “Since about 1998, we’ve seen a decline in the number of women dying from breast cancer annually, and we attribute that directly to the fact that mammography is detecting breast cancer at earlier stages when it is curable.  And so, the earlier the cancer can be detected, the more likely it can be cured and the less intense the treatment is for that breast cancer if it is caught in an earlier stage.”

Dr. Mocharnuk, who is also on the staff of the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at SIU, recommends that women have annual breast exams which includes a clinical examination by a physician, a review of a woman’s risk factors and a mammogram.  Mammography screening is the most effective method of early detection and an annual mammogram is recommended for women over age 40.  The majority of breast cancers are diagnosed in women who don’t have any specific risk factors except that their age is over 50.  He explains an important risk factor for breast cancer.

SOUND BITE:  “Women who have family histories of breast cancer, particularly if that family history includes first degree relatives:  mothers, sisters, daughters with breast cancer under the age of 40.  That would indicate there is a potential that they could have a mutation.”
Insurance companies and Medicare are required to cover mammography screening for breast cancer.  Low income women without insurance may qualify for the Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer program.  For more information about the program, call 1-888-522-1282 or talk to your personal physician about breast cancer screening.

This is Ruth Slottag at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield.