Got healthcare questions? We’ve got answers, thanks to our team of medical experts.
With Women’s Health Month coming up in May, we sat down with Dr. Christopher Porter, the newest member of the care team at St. Tammany Health System’s High Risk and Breast Disease Clinic, to discuss breast health.
Here’s some of what he had to say:
At what age should women begin getting regular mammograms?
Dr. Porter: The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Society of Breast Surgeons recommend women of average risk should get a mammogram every year starting at age 40, but you also want to have general breast awareness.
Patients know their bodies the best; they’re able to feel and see if there are any changes. If changes are noted or something seems different, then you go into your primary care, your OB-GYN or the St. Tammany Health System Women’s Pavilion and say, “Hey, this has changed. What do I need to do?” And most of the time they’ll say, “All right, let's get an ultrasound or a mammogram.”
But in general, for most people, at age 40 you’ll go and get your annual screening mammogram, and the team will kind of take it from there.
How does family history come into play?
Dr. Porter: Only 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases can be traced to a familial or genetic cause. If there’s anyone in your family who was diagnosed with breast cancer younger than 50, or if you have an immediate relative with breast, ovarian or pancreatic cancer, it’s important to have a heightened sense of awareness of your breast and discuss it with your doctors. In such cases, you should discuss your family history with your doctors to determine if you would qualify for enhanced screening or genetic testing. Similarly, if there’s a male relative in your family who had breast cancer or any known genetic risk within your family, you want to have a heightened sense of breast awareness and consult with your doctors on appropriate next steps.
How about prevention? Is there anything I can do to reduce my cancer risk?