It’s a scary notion for nearly all women – and a terrifying reality for many. Breast cancer. We don’t even like saying the words…However, it behooves you as a woman to know all you can about the disease so that you can best protect your health. So here you’ll learn about breast cancer screenings, what they are, what they entail and what they can tell you.

A breast cancer screening is the medical screening of asymptomatic (no symptoms), apparently healthy women for breast cancer with the goal of achieving an early diagnosis should disease be detected. Screening tests are used to find breast cancer before it causes any warning signs or symptoms. Health professionals can find breast cancer early when the chances of survival are highest. Hence, regular breast health screenings (along with follow-up tests and treatment if diagnosed) reduce your chances of dying from breast cancer.

The Breast Center of Maple Grove offers several types of breast cancer screening exams, including:

Mammogram — A mammogram is a picture of your breast taken with a safe, low-dose X-ray machine. While screening mammograms are routinely administered to detect breast cancer in women who have no apparent symptoms, diagnostic mammograms are used after suspicious results on a screening mammogram or after some signs of breast cancer, such as lumps, alert the physician to check the tissue.

Breast Ultrasound — Ultrasound imaging can help to determine if an abnormality is solid (which may be a non-cancerous lump of tissue or a cancerous tumor) or fluid-filled (such as a benign cyst) or both cystic and solid. Doppler ultrasound is used to assess blood supply in breast lesions.

Breast Biopsy — A breast biopsy is a test that removes tissue or sometimes fluid from the suspicious area. The removed cells are examined under a microscope and further tested to check for the presence of breast cancer. A biopsy is the only diagnostic procedure that can definitely determine if the suspicious area is cancerous.

Breast Wire or Seed Localization — Breast seed localization is a procedure in which a tiny metal seed, about the size of a sesame seed, is placed into abnormal breast tissue to mark its location. It may be done if the abnormal tissue is too small to be seen or felt by touch. The seed contains a small amount of radiation. If the tumor is non-palpable, a procedure called wire-localization or radioactive seed localization will be performed just before surgery. A radiologist will use a mammogram, breast ultrasound or breast MRI as a guide and insert a very thin wire or radioactive seed into the breast in the area of the abnormality.

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy — A stereotactic breast biopsy is a procedure that uses mammography to precisely identify and biopsy an abnormality within the breast. It’s normally done when the radiologist sees a suspicious abnormality on your mammogram that can’t be felt in a physical exam.

Ultrasound Guided Biopsy — An ultrasound-guided needle biopsy is an outpatient procedure to obtain a tissue sample of an abnormality discovered on a radiology scan. This is one type of “image-guided” biopsy, which combines the use of ultrasound with either a Fine Needle Aspiration or Core Needle Biopsy.

If you need a breast cancer screening or other breast imaging service in Minneapolis, consider The Breast Center of Maple Grove for your needs. A premier breast health center, we welcome both walk-ins and appointments. Call to schedule today: (763) 398-6370.

Some women work out six days a week. Some ladies get facials and love to preen. Some don’t eat carbs or sugar. Whether you are one of these 40-somethings or not, caring for your body and your breast health is something you can start now – helping to not only protect yourself from diseases like breast cancer but also to keep things prim, outside and in. Now is the best time to start treating yourself well and factoring in preventative measures. After all, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Here are some breast health tips* that you can start putting in action today!

Keep Up with Breast Health Screenings – Breakthrough Breast Cancer recently completed a survey of women showing that only 35% regularly check their breasts for signs of cancer. Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women and doing self-exams can lead to early diagnosis, which can rapidly increase survival odds.

Know Your Breasts – Many gynecologists tell patients to familiarize themselves with their breasts by checking them monthly and noting changes in size, shape and skin texture, as well as checking for discharge, rashes or lumps. If you don’t know how to check your breasts, ask your doctor.

Don’t Smoke Cigarettes — Smoking has continually been named a foremost cause of many serious illnesses, including breast cancer. A California Department of Health Services study found that the rate of breast cancer amongst women smokers was around 30% higher than for those who had never smoked. Separate research also suggests that the effects of smoking are cumulative, with risk increasing according to years of cigarette smoking. Hence, quitting now could help cut your risk of developing breast cancer.

Check Genetics – Because it’s 2018 and you actually can, why not look into your DNA or heredity (family tree) for the presence of breast cancer? Many websites, like 23andme.com, offer inherently detailed DNA tests and can reveal a ton of health information.

Exercise/Maintain Healthy Weight – Here’s why it may help: Fat cells produce estrogen, and high levels of that hormone have been linked to certain cancers. Working out can shrink the size of fat cells, so your body pumps out less estrogen. The American Cancer Society recommends getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week (ideally, spread out, not all at once). Any kind of cardio will do, so hop on your bike or hit the nature trail. If your time is limited, exercising at high intensity for 75 minutes a week will have the same benefit.

Apply sunscreen – Despite the warnings about skin cancer, many of us are still not applying sunscreen on a regular basis. However, failing to apply sun lotion not only puts the delicate chest area at risk of sunburn and skin cancer, but it can also lead to premature aging of the skin. To prevent a wrinkly cleavage and help keep your décolletage smooth and taut, make sure to apply a minimum of SPF 15 sunscreen whenever your skin is exposed to the sun.

Limit Alcohol Intake – Sure, there’s a positive health buzz around booze, but a meta-analysis of 53 studies showed that women who drank more than three drinks a day had 1.5 times the risk of developing breast cancer as did nondrinkers. Try to keep it to one serving a day or less: 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor.

Check Your Size/Consider Sports Bra – It is thought that more than 70% of women regularly wear the wrong bra size, yet this can not only lead to significant health problems including poor posture, skin irritation, and breathing difficulties, but it can irreversibly damage breast ligaments, leading to breast pain and sagging. Breast size can change frequently over your lifetime due to weight changes, pregnancy or menopause so, rather than guessing your size, make sure you get measured regularly to ensure you are getting the support you need.

Don’t forget folic acid – Not eating enough folate, the naturally occurring form of folic acid, is linked with impaired ability to repair DNA. And damaged DNA has, in turn, been linked to cancer. Folate is found in foods such as spinach and black-eyed peas, as well as in folic-fortified cereals and grains. Try to get 400 micrograms daily.

Improve Posture – If you want to give yourself an instant breast lift, the best thing you can do is improve your posture. The chest muscles can lose flexibility when your shoulders are hunched, causing sagging over time. Pay attention to how you stand and sit throughout the day and consider taking up an exercise that will improve your posture such as yoga, Pilates or Tai Chi.

*BONUS breast health tip: if you happen to be pregnant, breastfeeding is an interactive activity that also helps reduce the risk of breast cancer recent studies show (while also reducing the occurrence of postpartum depression and Diabetes Type 2 and ovarian cancer).

Help a Recently Diagnosed Friend or Family Member by Participating in Charitable Breast Cancer Awareness Activities and Fundraising Fun

Navigating the world of breast cancer treatment and all that it encapsulates is no cake walk – so if you have a friend or family member suffering from the disease, now is the time to help. Imagine that you could make easier dealing with the trials and tribulations that a breast cancer sufferer endures. Imagine you could bring a smile to that person’s face and a laugh to their heart. Imagine that you could help your loved one surpass at least one hurdle on her long and winding treatment road… Well, you can! Using breast cancer awareness ideas and activities to shine a light on loved ones is perhaps the best way to show that you love and support your female friend ‘til whatever end; it also lets you stretch your intellect muscles and raise money or awareness on a local level. From corporate matching donations to pink bowling parties to clever pink product placements, here’s a rundown of breast cancer awareness activities and ideas that you can easily implement.

Breast Cancer Awareness Ideas for Home Fun

Pink Food Party: Gather guests around a pink-clothed table of peonies and pixies, surrounded by luscious pink food and drink… Think cosmopolitans, pink lemonades, pink frosted donuts, pink cakes, fresh guavas and grapefruits, and other pink goodies. Guests will love partaking in the rose-toned festivities! Be sure to have guests wear a pink ribbon to support your friend.

Pink Scavenger Hunt: Create an awesome pink themed scavenger hunt around your neighborhood or throughout the entire town. Have seekers find pink balloons that they can pop to read an inspirational quote and their next clue to finding the next balloon. Let participating houses/shops know that you’re thinking pink, i.e., so they can deck out, too.

Pink Talent Show: Surely, your group of friends is full of talented people who love a good karaoke night, right? Hold a talent show at your home and have girlfriends vote on the best talent by donating money into a jar. The person who raises the most money wins the talent show. All the money generated gets donated to the fight against breast cancer.

Pink Fashion Show: Similar concept to the pink talent show, you simply swap the mic for your poshest pink peep-toes or most pleasing pink get-up.

Breast Cancer Awareness Activities for the Workplace

Cube/Door Decorating Contest: Workers decorate a designated door in the office. To participate each employee or team must pay a suggested donation for each door. Employees can purchase items to decorate the door or use items from home. The most creative door wins!

Casual Pink Fridays: Let your employees wear casual pink clothes to the office on Fridays. This is one of the simplest breast cancer awareness ideas that a company can implement. To participate, employees must make a minimum $1 donation each Friday. Each week you can vote to choose the employee who is the prettiest in pink.

Host Corporate Sponsored Outing or Event (golf, a 5k, a Walk, etc.): Corporate events are a common fundraising idea for active, professional people; for supporters looking to raise money or awareness for breast cancer. Many organizations host walkathons, 10k’s, marathons, bowling events or golf outings where supporters can participate and raise funds through sponsorships. If you wish, you can organize your own local sponsored outing or event. For it, you’ll need to pick a location and obtain all the required permits. Then, recruit volunteers to help you set up for the event and register participants. Send out invitations early and be sure to promote your fun-filled awareness affair on social media and in your community. To raise even more funds, try selling personalized tchotchkes or breast cancer awareness merchandise (i.e. water bottles, t-shirts and hats) during your event.

Create a Social Media Awareness Campaign: Create a social media campaign for the company and/or its breast cancer awareness efforts. Have employees share this and see who can get the most donations! Add some cool incentives like prizes for the most shares or views, or a day off for the person who gets the most traffic to their shares. Or you could dress all employees in pink and share pictures on the company social mediums with a fun hashtag.

Other Breast Cancer Fundraising Ideas

Pink Car Wash: Good old carwashes are a fun and functional way to fundraise. Get the company involved by having everyone participate. From working the hose to scrubbing the tires to managing the payments, anyone can help.

Pink Silent Auction: Work with local businesses and brands to get them to donate items to your event. Or you can form the patient’s friends and family into teams and have them go for donations to create prize baskets for the event.

50/50 Raffle: 50/50 raffles are unpretentious, easy, fun and low-cost. To prepare, you’ll need to simply buy a roll of raffle tickets. To organize the raffle, ask friends and family and coworkers to buy the tickets, and then after the drawing, the winner takes home half of the proceeds and the organizer (that’s you!) donates the other half to the fight against breast cancer.  As a giving incentive, make sure to display how much money is in the pot!

If you need a breast cancer screening and are in or around Minneapolis, consider The Breast Center of Maple Grove. A premier breast health center, we welcome walk-ins and appointments. Call for your first mammogram or breast health screening today: (763) 398-6370.

A woman’s first mammogram experience is deeply personal and, to some, a bit invasive: thus, it can leave even the fiercest females with lingering questions beforehand: “What will compression feel like?” “Will I be in pain or discomfort?” “How long will it take?” By learning how to prepare for and what to expect from this important breast cancer screening exam, you eliminate at least some of the guesswork that may be accompanying your trepidation. We find this lessens the anxiety before the appointment. Of course, the breast health center will inform you of the do’s and don’ts before your first mammogram, but your first breast health screening experience generally will go something like this:

1. Timing is Everything

You do not want to get a mammogram in the days leading up to your period or during your flow if that’s when you experience breast tenderness. It may lead to more discomfort during compression.

2. Do Not Wear Deodorant, Perfume, Body Sprays or Lotion

Be mindful that you can’t wear deodorant, powder, lotion or ointment around your chest or neck. If you DO apply anything, the product may look like an abnormality on the mammogram and the radiologist may mark it as an area of concern when reading the images.

3. Undress from the Waist Up

Wear a two-piece outfit to expedite the dressing and undressing process! You’ll be given a warm robe; this part is not dissimilar from your annual OB appointment.

4. It Takes Less than 15 Minutes

The entire breast screening procedure takes less than 15 minutes. Each of your breasts will be compressed for about 30 seconds during that time.

5. More About Compression

While compression can be uncomfortable, it’s also very important. It allows the breast tissue to spread and flatten. This guarantees a clear view of the breast and reduces the radiation needed to capture detailed images of the breast tissue.

6. You May Not Get Results Immediately; Be Prepared for Further Tests, too

When your mammogram is complete, a specialty-trained radiologist will read your images. If everything looks good, a report will be sent to your physician and you will receive a letter notifying you of your breast health. Sometimes, areas of breast tissue can be noted as suspicious. If that happens, you will be called back for additional images, known as a diagnostic mammogram.

7. Do NOT Delay Your First Mammogram

Women at average risk for breast cancer should get a mammogram every year beginning at age 40. Women with a higher risk of breast cancer should ask their doctor when they should have their first breast health screening and about regular mammograms thereafter. You’ll need to, in the future, arm yourself with up-to-date information and research about what mammograms can and can’t do for you so you’re well-versed about your personal risk

Breast cancer screenings save lives. Period. The technology a mammogram employs consists of low-dose x-rays that create images of your breast tissue and detect lumps that are too small to be felt. Most women receive their first mammogram near 40 years of age. If your doctor is recommending it sooner, he/she has good reason. Keep that in mind.

If you need a breast cancer screening or first mammogram in Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, consider The Breast Center of Maple Grove for your needs. A premier breast health center, we welcome both walk-ins and appointments. Remember: getting breast health screenings only sets you up for future health successes by providing you with up-to-date information on your own body. Knowing all you can about your body makes a big difference! And if breast cancer is discovered, finding it early can save your life. Call to schedule your first mammogram today: (763) 398-6370.

Breast cancer is a serious and scary diagnosis, but the good news is that we are learning more and more about it every day. Through extensive research by the National Institute of Health, Breast Cancer Organizations and other private and public entities, we are gaining an increasing amount of knowledge on how to prevent cancer from developing, as well as better ways to treat it.

Prevention and Living with Diagnosis

We are better at preventing cancer due to the discovery that living a healthy lifestyle can increase your risk and survival. Healthy eating habits and exercise lower your risk of getting cancer and the risk of recurrence for someone who has already had a cancer diagnosis. We now know that obesity greatly increases not only breast cancer diagnosis risk, but also of recurrence, giving women another great reason to eat healthy and exercise.

More recently, it was also discovered that exercise during cancer treatment helps with memory problems and brain functionality of those receiving cancer treatment.  Published in the Breast Cancer Research and Treatment journal, researchers found that those who participated regularly in moderate to vigorous physical activity while undergoing cancer treatment reported feeling less fatigue and performed better on mental exercises.

How Breast Cancer Works

Research through clinical trials has helped us learn about genetic links to breast cancer. Some types of breast cancer develop from genetic mutations, which can be passed on in families, increasing the risk for developing cancer. A study published just this summer, by the Journal of the American Medical Association, not only confirmed that shared gene mutations increase a person’s risk of developing breast cancer, but also that the location of these mutations within the genes also matters when calculating someone’s cancer risk. Additionally, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is funding a long term study called the “Sister Study”, looking into 50,000 sisters of women with a breast cancer diagnosis to learn about their environment, lifestyle and genes to gain a better perspective of any commonalities of those who become diagnosed.

Treatment

Researchers continue to look for medications and alternative therapies to provide better forms of breast cancer treatment, without the harsh side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. One of the newest treatments for breast cancer being investigated are called targeted therapies. These are drugs that specifically target changes in the genes to stop cancer cells from growing or spreading. Several studies are currently underway to look into these drugs for use in breast cancer treatment.

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer and would like to get involved and participate in a research study here are a few suggestions on how to get started:

• Ask your doctor
• Check out the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP): their staff will search clinical trials for you for free: https://www.ciscrp.org/
• Look up the National Cancer Institute (NCI): The NCI is a federal agency that funds most cancer clinical trials in the United States. Their website has information on both closed and open studies across the U.S.: https://www.cancer.gov/
• Visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov: this is a database that the National Library of Medicine at the National Institute of Health keeps of clinical trials

Get Screened

Set your mind at ease by getting your screening mammogram annually. By getting screened regularly you are setting yourself up for success by knowing all you can about your body. If cancer is discovered, finding it early can save your life! Don’t hesitate, call us today at 763-398-6370, or just come on in—walk-ins are always welcome!