Women Should Have Breast Exams at Least Until Age
85, Says Breast Cancer Expert
More than half of breast cancers are found in women
65 or older, 45% diagnosed after age 70, death more likely when found
late
Dr. Kathleen Diehl examines a breast cancer patient. - See
video below.
Oct. 6, 2008 - Despite recent examples of young and
middle-aged celebrities being diagnosed with breast cancer, more than
half of breast cancers happen in women over age 65. Concerned that many
older women are not taking the threat of breast cancer to themselves
seriously, an expert at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer
Center is urging seniors to continue annual breast screening at least
until age 85.
Women dont seem to take the risk of breast
cancer as they get older seriously, says Kathleen Diehl, M.D.,
assistant professor of surgery at the University of Michigan Medical
School.
A lot of women seem to think of it as a
middle-aged disease, and as they get older, they anticipate that if they
were going to get
breast cancer, they would have already had it. Therefore, they
arent as careful about getting screened.
The risk of breast cancer increases with age, and
does not drop off until after age 84.
More than half of breast cancers are diagnosed in
women age 65 or older, and as many as 45 percent are diagnosed after age
70.
Older women who do not follow regular screening
guidelines often are diagnosed at a later stage, when breast cancer is
more difficult to treat.
Even women who have previously been treated for
breast cancer frequently let their surveillance and screening fall by
the wayside as they get older.
But recent studies have shown that breast cancer
survivors who continue to have annual mammograms after age 65 cut their
risk of dying from the disease.
Breast cancer specialists, including Diehl, are
currently working on guidelines for screening older women.
In the meantime, Diehl recommends all women
continue to get screened for breast cancer past the age of 70 and at
least up till age 85. Screening should include the following:
● Yearly mammograms
● Yearly clinical breast exams with a health
care provider
● Monthly breast self-exams
Even women older than 85 should continue to be
screened for breast cancer, Diehl says, especially if they are in good
health.
The message I want every woman over age 65 to
really understand is that they need to continue to take care of their
health. They need to continue to be diligent about seeing their
physician for health maintenance exams, including a breast exam, and
about getting that mammogram done every year, Diehl says.
If they develop breast cancer, we want to catch it
early, when we have the best chance of treating it and continuing to
keep them feeling well and living a long time, she adds.
More than 180,000 women will be diagnosed with
breast cancer this year and 40,480 will die from the disease, according
to the American Cancer Society.
