Talking FACS
Host: Dr. Jennifer Hunter, Assistant Director for Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky
Guest: Natalie Jones, Extension Specialist for Family Health
Episode 17, Volume 2
0:00 Welcome to Talking FACS; what you need to know about family, food, finance and fitness. Hosted by the University of Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Program; our educators share research knowledge with individuals, families and communities to improve quality of life.
0:21 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Hello and welcome to Talking FACS. This is your host, Dr. Jennifer Hunter, Assistant Director for Family Consumer Sciences Extension at the University of Kentucky.
Today, I'm pleased to have joining me, Natalie Jones, our Extension Specialist for Family Health. Welcome, Natalie.
0:35 Natalie Jones: Thanks for having me.
0:37 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And today, we are just going to have an open, honest, casual conversation about breast health and about how women can protect themselves and be very mindful about potentials in breast cancer.
Let's just start with the whole idea of what is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
1:02 Natalie Jones: Exactly right; everything that you've mentioned, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is really a chance for us to raise awareness about the importance of detecting breast cancer early. And mainly, because breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer found in women.
And so, about one in eight women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. So, that is a staggering amount of women.
1:27 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: That is a pretty significant statistic there.
1:29 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Yeah. I'm just going to throw this in there. There is some interesting information, because actually, a lot of breast cancer research is done on women, but actually, there's been research done about trying to include more men into this breast cancer awareness month as well, just because there isn't a lot of information on signs and symptoms for men in how to detect breast cancer early. So, when they do get breast cancer, it usually ends up being more fatal than women, because it is rare. And so, it isn't something common.
So, that's just something to also include as well that men are included in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. However, we are going to be focusing mainly on women and different tests that a lot of women have heard of as well.
2:14 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: I think that's a great point, Natalie, because we just so often associate breast cancer with women. But it is true that men can also get breast cancer.
Let's talk a little bit about breast cancer survival and the potential to be able to survive breast cancer diagnosis.
2:34 Natalie Jones: Right. So, this is exactly why we want to have awareness month around breast cancer, because it is good news that most people can survive breast cancer, if it is found and treated early.
So, the way that that's done is called a mammogram. And this is a screening test that's done for breast cancer. So, it can help find breast cancer early when it's easier to treat, rather than when it's later and may be more difficult to get rid of as well.
3:02 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: And let's talk a little bit more in detail about the mammogram. What exactly is it?
3:07 Natalie Jones: Yeah. So, a mammogram, again, is as a screening tool used to detect early breast cancer. It's basically like an X-ray exam of the breast. So, a mammogram are most often used to find breast cancer early, such as when there are no signs of breast cancer.
And mammograms can also be used when there are some signs of concerns, like a lot of people know how to do a breast exam on themselves or if they go into their gynecologist. So, they may feel a lump in their breast or experienced some pain or discomfort that they usually don't have with their breasts.
3:43 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: So, when should someone get a mammogram?
3:46 Natalie Jones: Yeah. So, the U.S. Preventative Service Task Force actually recommends that women ages 50 to 74 get a mammogram every two years. So, typically, it would be 50 and above every two years. However, that is different for everybody. So, the U.S. also encourages women ages 40 to 49 to talk with their doctors about when they should start getting mammograms.
However, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider, if you have any symptoms; a change in your breast or if there's breast cancer in your family. So, then your healthcare provider may suggest that you actually have a mammogram before the age of 50, as well as more often than that typical recommendation.
So, if you go into like your typical Well Woman's exam that you should be having when you're either sexually active or starting your period, your gynecologist will do a breast exam on you every… again, that's every two years. So, if they feel something when you're, let's say, like around 30 years old, then they may suggest getting a mammogram instead of waiting until you're 50.
4:55 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: And we were chatting just before we started recording today and I shared with you that my healthcare provider actually recommended (I think I was 35) to get my first mammogram because there was a family history of having breast cancer.
And more than anything, as it was explained to me, that they just wanted a baseline measure, so that in case there was any changes in the future, they would be able to compare and I don't remember exactly all the medical terminology…
5:23 Natalie Jones: Right; compare and detect it earlier.
5:24 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Right.
5:25 Natalie Jones: And know the difference. Exactly.
5:26 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: And be able to see changes within the breast tissue. Where can someone go to get a mammogram?
5:33 Natalie Jones: Yeah. So, many clinics and hospitals have mammograms. But even now, because of the breast cancer awareness and everything that's been going on with this, there are actually different types of those travelling vans and buses where they have mammogram services available.
Usually, there are places near or close to your community where you could go to get a mammogram done. So, you should always talk to your healthcare provider about that. This is very similar to what you're saying about being able to track those changes.
So, if you have a choice and if it's possible, then you should try to go to the same facility every time that you get a mammogram done; whether that's every year or every two years. That way, they can easily compare those results.
But if you are going to a facility for a first time, then bring a list of those places and dates of the different, maybe mammograms or biopsies or other breast treatments that you've had done before. So, bringing in that history to your doctor's office.
And if you've had a mammogram at another facility, you also again, just bring those records with you if you have them for them to compare.
6:39 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: I know last year when I had a mammogram that they called the schedule. So, it wasn't something that I had to remember, which I greatly appreciated from my healthcare provider.
But there was also some type of special event that was going on. So, when I showed up, like they gave me breakfast with juice and I got a little T-shirt and little information; it was it was just a really neat day.
7:00 Natalie Jones: Yeah. Which is a great day to get an X-ray.
7:03 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: I know. But I do feel like that you do see often mammogram events promoted in different communities. And as you mentioned, it may be something that's a traveling mammogram, especially that may go to a smaller, more rural community, but a great opportunity for individuals to reach out and take advantage of the service.
7:21 Natalie Jones: Exactly.
7:23 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: How should one prepare themselves for a mammogram?
7:25 Natalie Jones: Yeah. So, schedule your mammogram or have your doctor call you to schedule a mammogram.
7:30 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: I know. Isn't that great?
7:31 Natalie Jones: Yes. But ideally, for a lot of people, there's that fear or concern about mammograms. So, if you can, try to get a time on your calendar when maybe your breasts aren't tender or swollen to help reduce that discomfort and for them to get good pictures of your breast tissue. So, this would just be like avoiding the week before your period, say, or whenever you feel like your breasts are going to be the most tender.
And then on the day of the exam; some people say don't wear deodorant or anti-perspirant because some substances, they say, can show up on an X-ray as a white spot. However, that's up to you and your doctor will know best based on the machine that they're using, if that will hinder the exam and they will make sure to tell you that.
A lot of times, for comfort, a lot of people recommend that you wear pants and a shirt or a skirt and a shirt, instead of a dress to a mammogram office, so that that way, all you have to do is remove your top and your bra for the mammogram, because they will give you that…
8:35 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Like a hospital gown.
8:36 Natalie Jones: Yes. Thank you. A hospital gown. And so, you don't have to be totally undressed to take the mammogram. So, you may feel a little bit more comfortable.
And then also, just making sure that you discuss any recent changes or problems that you're noticing with your breast to your healthcare provider before scheduling the mammogram. And that will help as well with their preparations of the mammogram.
8:59 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Okay. This deodorant tip is a really good one because I did not know that before I went in and had my first mammogram. And they do give you like baby wipes or something to wipe down with, but I had scheduled it fairly early in the day and I was like I should have brought deodorant with me to put that on afterwards.
So, that's a great tip that was just not something that I knew. And maybe most women do; I just didn't know ahead.
9:22 Natalie Jones: I don't think it's something that's normal. So, yeah, if you don't wear deodorant before your mammogram, that's totally normal. But if you're not going home afterward, if you're like going to work or going somewhere else, then you might want to take a deodorant with you to put it on after your exam.
9:36 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: It made me self-conscious.
9:37 Natalie Jones: I can understand that.
9:38 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Any other tips for getting a mammogram that you might be able to share with us.
9:43 Natalie Jones: Yeah, I think really just again, describing any problems or changes, any medical history that you think would be important, such as any surgeries or hormone use or breast cancer in your family, would be important information to share with your medical provider.
And then before getting any type of image tests, tell the technologist if you're breastfeeding or if you think that you might be pregnant. That's just important information for them to have to keep you safe during that X-ray portion.
10:13 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: One thing that I think many women hear or might prevent them from scheduling a mammogram is that they are afraid that it’s going to be painful. Let's talk a little bit about just what will having a mammogram feel like.
10:26 Natalie Jones: Right. I think that that is exactly one of the big barriers of a mammogram, is that. And honestly, for any Well Woman exam, there's a lot of fear along what that will look like and what that will feel like.
And so, just going to be honest. The mammogram is not going to be a comfortable procedure for most women. However, it is a very short time of discomfort. So, the actual meeting will probably take about 20, 30 minutes; very typical to your normal doctor's visit.
However, the X-ray portion of that mammogram will only take a few moments; a few seconds. So, that uncomfortable feeling will go away soon.
And it actually depends on a lot of different things. So, some women may have discomfort and some women may not. A lot of things alter that; whether it's the technician who's using the X-ray machine, whether it's your breast size or how much breast they need to get pressed in order to have a good X-ray. And then honestly, some people just feel more sensitivity than others as well. So, it's really all very up to the individual and the technician as well of what's taking place.
11:35 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: So, what happens next after someone has gone for the mammogram?
11:40 Natalie Jones: Yeah. So, after you've had the mammogram taken, a doctor, who is trained, will look at the mammogram to review the X-ray and he or she will look for early signs of breast cancer or any other problems.
It usually takes a few weeks to get the results back. And most often, they're shared with your healthcare provider. And typically, people, I feel like want their information… like 10 days is like that common time. They want it in 10 days, but it may take a little longer than that.
So, if you have not received a report from a mammogram within 30 days, then that's when you want to call either your healthcare provider or the mammogram center that you went to have the tests done. So, give it about a month and then I would call.
12:22 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: And I'll just throw this onto you. The first time I went, my healthcare provider said to me. He said, “Don't be concerned if you get a letter in the mail or if we call you and say you need to come back and have this done again. Because sometimes that can be something so simple, maybe like a deodorant speck or some type of shadow or if you just maybe move a little bit while they're taking the picture.”
So, he said, “Don't panic if you get that letter in the mail or if we call you and say that. Just come in and do it all again. And we just want to make certain that everything is how it is supposed to be.”
12:58 Natalie Jones: And it's better to be safe than sorry. And it is a short moment of feeling uncomfortable or feeling exposed, but it really will help in the long run. And it's worth that small little bit of uncomfortableness if it's going to protect your health.
13:15 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Why are breast cancer screenings so important?
13:18 Natalie Jones: Yeah. So, again, it's so important preventative healthcare, because regular mammograms are the key, basically, in finding breast cancer early. So, with the help of screenings, such as mammograms, breast cancer can be found early. And for most women, then they're able to live long and healthy lives.
So, don't be afraid of a mammogram. Remember that only 2 to 4 screening mammograms in a thousand people lead to a diagnosis of breast cancer. So, most likely you're going to be okay.
Like your doctor said, if you get a letter though, you had to come back. They'll redo the screaming, make sure that the test is correct or not, and then move forward with the different processes.
13:57 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: And in today's discussion, we've really focused on mammograms and understanding more about mammograms. But I think it's also important for us to point out how important breast self-exams are for women to be doing on a regular basis so that they can notice if there's any type of change within their breast and then reach out to their healthcare professional to be referred for a mammogram or whatever that next step may be.
14:20 Natalie Jones: Yeah. And the best time to do that is in the shower. And a lot of people say so hopefully, you're showering regularly; basic hygiene.
14:29 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: Hopefully.
14:30 Natalie Jones: Hopefully. And so, when you're in the shower, that's going to be a really good, easy place for you to have a private breast exam with yourself. And if you do notice anything different, then to talk to your health care provider.
14:43 Dr. Jennifer Hunter: This is probably, I think, one of the best freebie-type things that's ever given away out there. It was like this little informational hook thing that went on your showerhead that talked about how to do a self-breast exam and how often to do it.
But it was just a great reminder because you'd be in the shower and you'd look up and you would see it there and you're like, “Oh, yeah. I need to do that” or “I should do that.”
So, thank you, Natalie, for bringing awareness and just helping us understand more about breast cancer awareness and learning more about mammograms.
15:13 Natalie Jones: Thank you for having me.
15:15 Thank you for listening to Talking FACS. We deliver programs focusing on nutrition, health, resource management, family development and civic engagement.
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