According to the American Cancer Society, “for women in the US, breast cancer is the most common cancer (after skin cancer) and the second-leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer) https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/cancer-control/en/booklets-flyers/breast-cancer-fact-sheet-patient-version.pdf.
Donna Adams-Pickett, PhD MD FACOG, specializes in obstetrics and gynecology. She said that “the incidence of breast cancer is rising more in women under the age of 50, particularly under the age of 45, while the incidence of breast cancer in older women has largely remained unchanged.”
Sign up for our free newsletter.
However, there has been a significant increase in lobular breast cancer that is found in the lobules, the milk-producing glands in the breast. It is unique in both its appearance and its growth.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 90px;}}“Lobular tumors grow in a linear or dispersed pattern. Thus, it typically does not form a lump as most other breast cancers do. This can contribute to delayed detection by patients and doctors, treatment challenges, and poorer long-term prognosis for advanced disease. More study is needed to determine why there is this sudden increase,” said Adams-Pickett.
Ranked separately, it is considered the seventh most common breast cancer.
“However, while all other breast cancer diagnosis rates have increased by 0.8% each year, lobular breast cancer has increased by 2.8%,” Adams-Pickett added.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-2{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-2{min-height: 90px;}}Additionally, there has been a consistent rise in the incidence of breast cancer in women 30-45, with a consistent increase of approximately 0.8 % every year for the past 13 years. The risk in women under 50 has increased by 1.7 % every year for the past 13 years.
Dr. Adams-Pickett stated that some proposed theories regarding contributing factors to these increases in diagnoses for this age group include delayed childbearing.
“In other words, women having children later in life, in their thirties versus their twenties, may be a contributor,” she said.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-3{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-3{min-height: 90px;}}Earlier onset of the start of periods (menarche) may be a contributor, as it can result in more prolonged lifetime estrogen exposure. Adams-Pickett mentioned that increased rates of obesity may play a role as obesity is often related to poor nutrition and metabolism that may play a role. Additionally, environmental exposure to genetically modified and hormone-supplemented foods containing artificial additives may contribute.
“Exposure to environmental chemicals in our air, water, soil, etc., may play a role,” Dr. Adams-Pickett stated.
Finally, there may also be a link between increased alcohol consumption in this demographic, particularly those who drink more than two to three drinks per week.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-4{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-4{min-height: 90px;}}“It is definitely multifactorial, and further studies are underway to learn more,” said Dr. Adams-Pickett.
Health equity plays a massive role in early breast cancer diagnosis, as decreased access for the uninsured and underinsured to clinicians to report suspicious findings may impact the ability to diagnose in a timely manner. Equitable access to screening and diagnostic radiologic studies plays a large role in identifying breast cancer, the doctor noted.
“While Medicaid and insurance plans cover screening mammograms at 100%, diagnosis of disease requires more in-depth studies like diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI and biopsies. None of those advanced studies and interventions are covered completely by insurance. Many patients cannot afford to have those studies done and delay their diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. Adams-Pickett said.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-5{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-5{min-height: 90px;}}Breast cancer death rates have decreased overall since the late eighties, early nineties by nearly 45%. And while Black women do not have the highest rate of breast cancer diagnoses, Black women consistently are 40% more likely to die from a breast cancer diagnosis.
“Again, multiple factors play a role, but among them, Black women tend to be diagnosed with more aggressive, inflammatory breast cancers. Black women are more likely to have comorbid health conditions that impact the success of treatment of the disease. Additionally, delays in diagnosis and appropriate treatment due to barriers to access and systemic bias impact survival rates,” Dr. Adams-Pickett explained.
It is crucial that mammograms are obtained in a timely manner because early diagnosis of breast cancer is key to identifying the disease before it has an opportunity to spread.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-6{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-6{min-height: 90px;}}“It is literally the difference between life and death,” Dr. Adams-Pickett stated. “Most women should have mammograms annually from the age of 40 to 75. Low-risk patients and patients over the age of 75 may opt to have them every other year through shared decision making and counseling with their clinician.”
Learn more about Dr. Adams-Pickett, owner of Augusta Women’s Health & Wellness Center by visiting www.augustawomenshealth.com and www.fourgirlsforgirls.org. Visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer.html to learn more facts about breast cancer.
