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[Music Playing...]
DR. SUN: Hi. I am Dr. Eugene Sun chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico.
NARRATOR: Dr. Sun, how can women protect themselves against breast cancer?
DR. SUN: I think it is important for women to be educated about the statistics for breast
cancer. One in eight women will be diagnosed with cancer in some point in their lifetime.
In this country, the United States, well over 220,000 will be diagnosed with cancer every
year. Unfortunately approximately 40,000 women will die from breast cancer every year. So,
I think the first thing for women is to understand that it is a relatively common disease, and
they need to take steps to protect themselves. Some very straight forward steps is to do
a monthly breast exam, looking for any lumps, bumps or any changes, and if you find any
go see you doctor or health care provider immediately for follow up. So I think it is
important not to dismiss anything that might have changed, as something, without getting
it checked.
NARRATOR: What should women know about early detection of breast cancer?
I think the key for women is that the earlier breast cancer is caught, diagnosed, and treated
the better the chances of survival. If breast cancer is caught in its local stages and it
has not spread five year survival is 98 to 99 percent which is very high. Once the disease
has spread the chances of survival decreases. Again early detection is critical.
NARRATOR: Are there healthy habits to help reduce the risk of breast cancer?
DR. SUN: Alcohol consumption has been fairly clearly shown to increase risk for breast
cancer. So I would just encourage you to, if you use alcohol, to use moderation. It's
believed that maintaining a health weight as well as physical activity can reduce the
risk of breast cancer as well.
NARRATOR: What are the early detection steps women should take?
DR. SUN: I think a very straight forward, and pretty easy step to do is monthly self
breast exams. Pick a time once a month that convenient for you and go ahead and do those
exams. It's also important to be checked by you health care provider or physician regularly.
I would say least yearly, and your physician will work with you in terms of when to order
a mammogram, and how often a mammogram should be done. Mammography can detect cancers before
their even noticeable or even can be felt. It's an important piece of early detection.
NARRATOR: What are the early warning signs of breast cancer?
DR. SUN: Any changes in the ***, it could be a lump, tender bump, a non-tender bump,
redness of the skin, drying scaling, oozing of the skin anything that is out of the ordinary
could prevent cancer. Most of the time it won't, but the key is if you detect such change
to get checked by a health care professional.
NARRATOR: Does breast cancer only occur in women?
DR. SUN: Breast cancer is most common in women of course. Breast cancer is known to occur
in men. There are approximately two to three thousand cases of breast cancer diagnosed
in men every year. Again, if it something that you find, and detect early it is very
treatable and curable, the key is don't wait if you find something abnormal go see your
doctor, and have it checked out thoroughly.
NARRATOR: Is breast cancer hereditary?
DR. SUN: Breast cancer can run in families. If you have two first what are called first
degree relatives, would be a mother, grandmother with a history of breast cancer that will
increase your risk for breast cancer. There are a couple very specific genetic changes
called BRCA, that if they exist can also increase the risk of breast cancer. If you have these
risk factors definitely talk to you health care provider or doctor about them.
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