Discovering lumps, visible abnormalities, or malignant tumors during a routine mammogram can change a woman's life forever; self-examination, or testing and screening by a doctor can reveal breast cancer, a disease that afflicts one in eight women (just over 12 percent) in the United States.

Numbers show that new cases of breast cancer and mortality rates are lower for Hispanic/Latina women than for non-Hispanic white women and African American women, yet breast cancer remains the leading cause of death for Latinas. And, that's greatly due to the fact that Latinas tend to be diagnosed at a later stage of breast cancer, and they often fail to follow-up after an abnormal mammogram.

Spanish-speaking treatment and prevention expert and assistant professor in the Department of Breast Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Dr. Mariana Chavez Mac Gregor, shared a bit of insight about breast cancer with Latin Post, discussing risk factors, mammographic guidelines, and advancement in treatments. Eager to be a cancer doctor since a very young age, the medical oncologist who specialized in breast cancer explained that all women are at risk for breast cancer, and one in 10 women risk developing cancer throughout their lifetime.

"The risk to develop breast cancer for women aged 40-59 is 1 in 33, for those 60-69 is 1 in 38, and for those 70 and older is 1 in 20. Breast cancer is a multifactorial disease and we cannot specify the percentage of women that get breast cancer because of behavioral aspects," said Dr. Chavez Mac Gregor. "Obesity and heavy alcohol intake are known risk factors for breast cancer, meaning that those patients have a higher risk of developing the disease, but there could be many obese women that never develop breast cancer, and some slim and healthy women that do."

Likelihood does not predict who will develop the disease. Women bearing risk factors may not develop breast cancer, while a woman with no clear risk indicators might, which is why screening, testing and mammograms are so important.

The U.S. task force guidelines recommend starting testing at age 50 and performing every other year. However, Dr. Chavez Mac Gregor follows the NCCN and ASCO guidelines that recommend annual mammogram starting at age 40.

Mammograms and screenings can be an issue for low-income patients who lack insurance. However, many communities have programs that perform mammograms at low cost. Nonetheless, the challenge of identifying those programs and accessing advanced treatments can be an issue when facing languages barriers and other roadblocks.

While women can't be sure if they've escaped the clutches of breast cancer's pursuit, maintaining a healthy weight, regular exercise, avoiding alcohol intake, and seeking medical attention whenever there's a change in the shape, consistency, or color the breast, is the best way to ensure one's health. Hereditary risks (such as BRCA1 or 2 mutations or strong breast cancer family history) are reproductive characteristics that have been associated with increased risks indicated by the early age of a woman's first menstrual cycle; the late age of menopause; the late age of a first full term pregnancy or never becoming pregnant; never breastfeeding; and the use of hormonal replacement therapy in addition to obesity and increased alcohol intake, according to Dr. Chavez Mac Gregor.

Dr. Chavez Mac Gregor also indicated that technology has caught up with concerns over breast cancer incidence and mortality.

"Treatment has advanced significantly and now breast cancer patients have better outcomes than what they had years ago. We are better at classifying the disease and at providing specific treatment according to breast cancer subtype," shared Dr. Chavez Mac Gregor in an email. "In the last 2 years, we have had new drugs approved and hopefully some more will come soon, and that gives us more tools to treat our patients. We continue to work as a multidisciplinary team to improve outcomes with surgeons, radiation oncologists, plastic surgeons, dieticians, pathologist, radiologist ... [T]here have been improvements in all areas."

Many in the Hispanic or African American community don't take advantage of advancements in the field due to a lack of access to health care or a failure to follow-up with health concerns. Young patients, in particular have an aversion to check-ups, despite its relationship to fertility issues, sexuality and body image, which is why they should be particularly mindful of symptoms and diagnosis. Men should also be aware that they can be at risk of breast cancer, as 1 percent of those with breast cancer are male.

To learn more about early detection and screening, visit Susan G. Komen and the American Cancer Society.

Related