We know that breast and ovarian cancer may be linked. If a woman has a personal or family history of one cancer, she may be at higher risk for the other. In addition, what we do to alter the course of one cancer may affect the other. We now have tools to help each and every woman take charge her breast health. Breast cancer is curable when diagnosed at an early stage. By educating ourselves, and each other, about the warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer, we CAN make a difference.

Breast cancer strikes more than 200,000 women in the United States, killing approximately 40,000 each year.

KNOWN RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER:
Family or personal history of breast/ovarian cancer
Known BRCA gene mutation in the individual or the family
Ashkenazi Jewish descent
Age at first full-term pregnancy
Not bearing a child
Early menarche
Late menopause
Obesity
Alcohol consumption
Physical inactivity
Prior radiation exposure (e.g. for treatment of cancer in childhood)

BREAST CANCER SYMPTOMS:
Lumps, bumps, or breast asymmetry
A lump in the underarm
Skin changes – thickening, redness, dimpling, scaly patches
Nipple discharge, especially blood-tinged
Any changes that persist and are unusual for you

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MONITOR YOUR RISK FOR BREAST CANCER:
Learn breast self-examination
Get regular clinical breast exams by your physician
Get a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35-40
After 40, get a yearly mammogram
Increase your level of exercise
Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and limit animal fats
Reduce alcohol intake to no more than 2-3 drinks per week

DID YOU KNOW:
1 in 800 individuals carry a BRCA gene mutation
1 in 40 in the Ashkenazi Jewish population carries a BRCA gene mutation
The risk for a woman who is BRCA 1/2 positive to develop breast cancer is 80-90%, substantially higher than the 13% risk for a woman in the general population
1 in 50 women will develop breast cancer by the age of 50; by age 55, it is 1 in 33
Women who have had breast cancer before the age of 50 are twice as likely to develop ovarian cancer then women who have not


Here is some advice from The Lynne Cohen Foundation's Medical Advisory Board regarding diagnosis, surgery and treatment:

DIAGNOSIS
See your doctor if you are concerned about a finding or symptom. If symptoms persist and are not evaluated be sure to insist on further attention. If you have any of the risk factors listed above, or if you feel concerned about your level of risk, find a Preventive Care Program or a doctor knowledgeable about breast cancer screening and prevention and have your individual risk profile evaluated. With this information, you and your health care team can determine the best strategies to manage your risk and reduce your chances of developing cancer in the future.

SURGERY
Whether you are dealing with prevention or treatment of a cancer, there are surgical options available. These must be individualized for your situation medically, physically, and emotionally. A one-size approach to cancer prevention or treatment does not fit all.

TREATMENT
Prevention strategies now include genetic testing, more intensive surveillance, sometimes with MRIs, chemoprevention (medicines to reduce the risk of breast cancer), preventative surgery (both the breasts and the ovaries), clinical trials, and important lifestyle changes. If you think, for any reason, that you may be at increased risk of breast cancer, see a specialist in the field and discuss your situation, have your risk evaluated, and take control of your health.

If you are diagnosed with breast cancer your risk of a second breast cancer is increased. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor so treatment decisions made at the outset protect you for the future.

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