Dorothy: [00:00:00] Let’s Talk About Your Breasts, a different kind of podcast presented to you by The Rose, the Breast Center of Excellence, and a Texas treasure. You’re going to hear frank discussions about tough topics, and you’re going to learn why knowing about your breast could save your life.
Between 2015 and 2019, the incidence of invasive breast cancer in women was aged 40 to 49 has increased by approximately 2 percent per year. This is concerning. And you know, for us, it’s no coincidence that this is, there’s been an increase in cancers during that time, during a time after the USPSTF, which is the United States Preventive Services Task Force, released their recommendations saying that women did not need a mammogram until they were 50 years old.
So, of course, those [00:01:00] cancers were not caught, of course, they’re going to be more advanced, and of course, that woman’s going to have a harder time beating this disease. Now, I want to talk a, a little bit more about why it’s so important to have that mammogram in your 40s, but there’s another recent study that just came out, and it says that, it was in Canada, the University of Ottawa, said breast cancer cases in young Canadian women, especially women in their 20s has risen by as much as 45 percent in recent years. Breast cancer in women in their 20s. There was a time when if you had breast cancer under age 40, it was rare. But that no longer is what is happening. And I really want to encourage anyone who finds anything wrong with their breasts, who is a young woman, to have it checked out.
Here’s what some people will say. Well, of course you’re finding [00:02:00] cancers in 30 year olds and 20 year olds because you’re screening more. No. We do not screen women in their 20s and 30s. The recommendations now say start at 40. So think about it. These women are coming in with a problem. And one of the other things that that study found out in Canada was that Between the ages of 30 and, and 40, they were increasing by 12%, 9 percent respectively, and, and it raised the question whether their task force, the Canadian task force, should change their recommendations of starting screening at age, at age 50.
Well, they had that opportunity and they didn’t. One of the things that I am really glad the U. S. Task Force did was change those recommendations. I believe a woman should be able to have a mammogram at any time. [00:03:00] If she feels like she needs a mammogram, she should be able to have it. You know, one of the doctors from that Ottawa study, uh, Jean Seeley, said we need to do a better job of identifying people who are more likely to get breast cancer in their 20s and 30s.
And we have the tools to do that. We have ways to measure risk. And we know from the stats that there are certain populations, particularly in our black communities, who are developing breast cancer in their 30s. So why aren’t we screening those women? Now, I want to just share with you the statistics that we have. This isn’t national statistics. This isn’t Canadian statistics. This isn’t statewide. These are the ones The Rose has. In the last decade, we have found cancers in 410 women under the age [00:04:00] of 40. 410. Now, what will you do if you’re a 20 year old facing breast cancer? I could certainly list all the podcasts that we have done of women who were in their 20s and diagnosed.
It is unbelievable that we don’t have a better way of identifying these women. Of that 410 women in this last decade, 258 were uninsured. Now, if you’re a young woman, you’re going to have trouble getting a mammogram, no matter what. If you’re insured, they’re going to want to call it a diagnostic test.
That diagnostic test can get very expensive. And many, many times, young women simply don’t have that kind of money. If you’re uninsured, you’re going to have to find a doctor who believes you. Even if you’re insured, you’ve got to find a doctor who believes you and says, yes, you need to have one, and, [00:05:00] and will give you that referral form.
But the, the uninsured woman will not have anywhere that she can just go, like The Rose. So, no matter what, if you’re a young woman, you have some risk in developing breast cancer. I cannot stress enough. Do not ignore it. Be sure you take it to some health care provider. And particularly if you are pregnant, or within five years of childbirth, many, many times breast cancer is misdiagnosed in that, in that group.
The doctor says it’s a clogged milk duct. Or, you know, your breast goes through a lot of changes. True, it could be, but it could also be breast cancer. So, one thing I’ve learned through 38 years of running The Rose is if you’re not your best advocate, nobody else will be. So when you find something [00:06:00] and you know it’s not right, you know it’s a change, you know it’s different, do not stop until you find someone who makes sure you have a mammogram or ultrasound or both and at least have a breast exam.
A physical breast exam where that physician is checking your breasts. That’s one thing you can do every month, just by yourself. And if you find something, believe me, that’s the time to go in and have it checked out. So, every woman is at risk. No matter what your age, that’s just the facts, and young women are never too young to have breast cancer.
Our youngest was 18, and if you’re in your 40s, please start your screening, get one every year, because those, those simple things could save your life. So, one thing I do want to stress is, at The Rose, we [00:07:00] will listen to you. We understand that this is a scary time. We know that not everything you find in your breast is going to be cancer, but we don’t want to miss that one time when it might be.
No matter what your age, if you feel like you have a problem going on, I want to, I want you to call us. We’ll have some kind of program that can help you. I want you to tell us that you are worried about your breast because that is always our first concern. You know, we think women know their bodies well. We think you know when something has changed and we certainly certainly don’t want you to put that off. Give us a call. Go on our website therose.org and you’ll find a way to schedule. But always have it checked out.
Post-Credits: Thank you for joining us today on Let’s Talk About Your Breasts. This [00:08:00] podcast is produced by Speke Podcasting and brought to you by The Rose. Visit TheRose.org to learn more about our organization. Subscribe to our podcast, share episodes with friends, and join the conversation on social media using #LetsTalkAboutYourBreasts. We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Consider supporting The Rose. Your gift can make the difference to a person in need. And remember, self care is not selfish. It’s essential.
