October focus: healthy breasts

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a reminder to all women to schedule an annual mammogram, which is particularly important on Long Island, where women are diagnosed with the disease more often than the national average.

“We don’t know why, but we do have a higher rate,” said Christine Mancuso, director of the Breast Center at Nassau University Medical Center. “We’ve had a higher rate for a long time.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, accounting for 15 percent of all cancer cases, and it is the second most deadly after lung cancer. The key to survival is early diagnosis. “If we detect it early,” said Mancuso, “we have a better cure rate.”

While there are prominent risk factors that include an early menstrual cycle, delayed menopause and bearing children after age 30 or not at all, there are no known ways to prevent the disease. For this reason, Mancuso says, women need to be educated consumers.

The American Cancer Society no longer pushes for breast self-exams, but “be aware of what your breasts look and feel like and see your doctor if there is a change,” Mancuso said. The best time to examine your breasts is seven to 10 days after the start of your menstrual cycle, when they are the least tender.

Additionally, mammograms should begin at age 40 unless a doctor recommends earlier testing.

“In general, I think most women screen,” said Mancuso, and decreasing mortality rates in recent years back up her opinion. The annual cancer mortality rate in Nassau County has decreased 21 percent since the mid-1990s, according to the ACS.

Women do tend to procrastinate, however, when it comes to getting screened, Mancuso acknowledges. Carol Davan, a retired college professor from East Meadow, agrees. “I’m probably a person who intelligently knows it’s the right thing to do, but I drag my feet,” said Davan. She added that she thinks most people delay medical appointments when they know there is the possibility of devastating results. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer six years ago, Davan said, “All you can do is hope they catch it early.”

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