Oct
18
Breast Cancer - Myths vs. Facts
Filed Under Women's Health News
Although many advances have been made in breast cancer detection and treatment over the last quarter century, the fact is we still don’t know much about the causes or cures. This leaves many people misunderstanding the facts. It’s time we dispel those myths and replace them with what we know is true about breast cancer in 2009.
1. Myth: I’m too young to worry about breast cancer.
Fact: While it’s true that your breast cancer risk increases as you get older, the fact is that women of all ages are at risk for developing breast cancer.
2. Myth: There’s never been a case of breast cancer in my family so I don’t need to worry about it happening to me.
Fact: The truth is the majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer don’t have a family history of this common cancer. However, if your mother or sister ever had breast cancer your risk is significantly increased.
3. Myth: I don’t have a mutated breast cancer gene, BRCA1 or BRCA2, so I’m sure breast cancer is not in my future.
Fact: Don’t fool yourself! Not having a breast cancer gene does not mean you won’t get breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the truth is that almost all women (90 to 95 percent) diagnosed with breast cancer have neither a family history nor mutated BRCA genes.
4. Myth: The majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer had more than one risk factor prior to diagnosis.
Fact: All women are at risk for developing breast cancer whether they have known risk factors. In fact, the majority of breast cancer patients had no known risk factors, other than being female, for this frightening disease.
5. Myth: Breast cancer is preventable.
Fact: Although drugs classified as anti estrogens, such as Tamoxifen or Evista®, may decrease breast cancer risk in certain women, the cause of breast cancer remains unknown and is not completely preventable. The real key to surviving breast cancer is early detection and treatment.
6. Myth: Having yearly mammograms will expose me to too much radiation and result in developing cancer.
Fact: According to the American College of Radiology, the benefits of annual mammograms far outweigh any risks that may occur because of the minute amount of radiation used during this screening procedure that can detect disease before it can be felt as a lump.
7. Myth: I’m not going to breastfeed because breastfeeding would increase my risk of getting breast cancer.
Fact: Just the opposite is true. Breastfeeding may actually decrease the risk of breast cancer.
So what can you do? In 2009 the recommendations are as follows: Monthly self breast exams. Annual examinations with your physician. Annual mammograms after 40 years of age.
Wishing you good health!
Women’s Health Specialists
2299 Mowry Avenue, Suite #3C
Fremont, CA 94538
510.796.7057
www.WomensHealthFremont.com
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Sep
26
Women’s Health Specialists is pleased to announce that we are now offering Adiana® Permanent Contraception, a transcervical option for permanent birth control. It is a safe, highly effective, and minimally invasive alternative to tubal ligation. Adiana is a procedure that eliminates the need for incisions, general anesthesia, and lengthy hospital stays. The procedure takes less than 12 minutes and patients are typically back to normal activities the next day. Our patients have the option of having it conveniently performed in our office or the outpatient surgery center. Menstrual cramps are about all you feel during the brief procedure.
Similar to Essure®, the Adiana procedure uses a thin telescope that’s inserted into the uterus. It allows placement of a soft, bio compatible silicone matrix in each of the patient’s fallopian tubes, which creates a permanent barrier within 3 months. A confirmation test is then performed to prove bilateral tubal occlusion, reassuring all concerned.
Many women falsely believe that they can’t get pregnant after a specific age or that condoms are almost full proof (actually 15% of couples using condoms conceive each year). The security of Adiana may be of interest to women who are comfortable that they’ve completed childbearing and would like the certainty and convenience of permanent birth control.
Finally, hysteroscopic sterilization is even more effective (over 99%) than traditional tubal ligation. Combined with the aforementioned benefits this makes compelling logic for this to be the preferred method of permanent birth control for women.
Wishing you good health!
Women’s Health Specialists
2299 Mowry Avenue, Suite #3C
Fremont, CA 94538
510.796.7057
www.WomensHealthFremont.com
Share this newsletter with those you care… sisters, mothers, friends
PS: Dr. Macdonald had her 2nd child, Chloe, and is now back at Women’s Health Specialists
Aug
18
Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in the United States. It commonly presents as postmenopausal bleeding (vaginal bleeding/spotting that occurs after menstrual periods had previously stopped for over one year).
The clinical approach to postmenopausal bleeding requires a prompt and efficient evaluation to diagnose or exclude cancer. The American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology recently updated their triage recommendations for postmenopausal bleeding. While the initial evaluation may include either endometrial biopsy (a small tissue sample from the inside lining of the uterus) or transvaginal ultrasound, the later has the advantage of being non invasive and consequently painless. If the transvaginal (not abdominal) ultrasound clearly demonstrates the endometrium is ≤ 4mm thick then it excludes uterine cancer with an accuracy of 99%—superior to endometrial biopsy. If it is thicker than this or cannot be clearly seen then further evaluation is warranted. For instance, we can enhance the ultrasound by performing a saline infused sonogram that more accurately reveals small polyps projecting into the uterine cavity, which may be the source of bleeding. Finally, if endometrial thickening is present and cannot be explained by these imaging studies, then an endometrial biopsy is performed in the office.
For most women we perform this entire work up conveniently during a single office consultation. This efficient process alleviates anxiety and saves time.
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Should postmenopausal bleeding persist in spite of an initial negative evaluation then further testing is indicated, which usually includes the gold standard of hysteroscopic directed biopsy (placing a thin scope inside the uterine cavity to look for abnormal growths).
Even if uterine cancer is detected, it frequently has a favorable outcome. More good news… the majority of women presenting with postmenopausal bleeding do so because of changes to the vagina or uterus from estrogen deficiency. Consequently, an efficient evaluation usually yields reassurance.
Wishing you good health!
Women’s Health Specialists
2299 Mowry Avenue, Suite #3C
Fremont, CA 94538
510.796.7057
www.WomensHealthFremont.com
Share this newsletter with those you care… sisters, mothers, friends
