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Dr. Deb Friesen, an internal medicine physician and Kaiser Permanente physician advisor, shares more on breast cancer symptoms, risks and the importance of screenings.
What’s the importance of preventive care screenings and mammograms for early detection of breast cancer? What symptoms should people look out for?
Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer don’t have any symptoms at all. That’s why you really do have to get that mammogram. It makes such a difference to diagnose early. Doing self-breast exams is really helpful. If there’s something different or if there’s a change, there’s no harm in getting a mammogram or ultrasound.
Is it possible to get diagnosed with breast cancer if there’s no family history?
Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women. I can’t tell you how many patients when I would talk about mammograms would say “eh, not so important. I don’t have a family history.” And I’d have to explain most women who are diagnosed don’t have a family history. And the other side is true as well. If you have that family history, it actually increases your risks of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Who should get screened?
From ages 40-44, women should be offered the option of an annual screening if they have a normal risk of breast cancer. A woman is considered normal/average risk if she has no personal history of breast cancer, doesn’t have a strong family history of breast cancer, doesn’t have a genetic mutation known to increase breast cancer risk and hasn’t had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30. Women ages 45-54 should get a mammogram annually. And women ages 55 and older, can either keep getting screened every year or every other year.
The Northrop Grumman health plan typically covers 100% of preventive services. Depending on your plan, this could include your annual physical, vaccinations, certain wellness screenings and more. Contact Quantum Health to learn how you can schedule your age-appropriate health screenings, including mammograms.
In addition, employees are invited to participate in noncompetitive fundraising walks with the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” campaign in October and have the first $150,000 raised matched by Northrop Grumman. Learn more at our partnership page and log your walking time as volunteer hours in the MyGiving portal.