NORTHFIELD, Ill., April 26 /PRNewswire/ — Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Conservative radio talk show host and best selling author Laura Ingraham’s recent encounter with this potentially deadly disease illustrates the importance of early detection in diagnosis and treatment.
“Timing is critical when it comes to cancer — the sooner it is detected the better the chance a woman has to get successful treatment,” said Sue Hilton, MD, FCAP, at St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. “Even though women know that early breast cancer detection may save their life, many say they are ‘too busy’ or simply forget to schedule their annual mammograms.”
Mammograms can help detect cancer before a woman can feel a lump in a self-examination, as well as detect cancers too small to feel during a clinical breast exam.
Dr. Hilton, a physician who specializes in treating patients through laboratory medicine, says all women should monitor their breast health on a regular basis. The College of American Pathologists recommends that all women 40 years and older should have annual mammograms, based on their physician’s recommendation.
“Breast cancer can strike women at any age,” Dr. Hilton said. “It is especially important to start regular screening early if you have a family history of breast cancer.”
Other risk factors for breast cancer are:
— Personal history of breast cancer: women with cancer in one breast have
a higher chance of developing a new cancer (not just a recurrence of
the earlier cancer) in another part of the same breast or in the other
breast.
— Race: While Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast
cancer than African-American women, African-American women are more
likely to die of breast cancer. Asian and Hispanic women have a lower
risk of developing breast cancer.
— History of breast biopsy: Certain types of abnormal breast biopsy
results can be linked to a slightly higher risk for breast cancer.
— History of radiation treatment: Women who had chest area radiation
treatment as children or young women have a significantly increased
risk for breast cancer.
In response to surprising data from a 2000 Gallup poll of 1,000 women, the College of American Pathologists created a free health test reminder Web site. According to this national poll, 36 percent of all adult women did not have a Pap test in the prior 12 months. Yet the poll results indicated that women who receive a reminder to schedule a Pap test are more likely to report getting a Pap test within the past 12 months than women who do not receive a reminder (78 percent vs. 47 percent, respectively). Among those surveyed who said that they did not receive a reminder, 62 percent felt that they would be more likely to make an appointment if reminded.
“It was surprising that a simple reminder had such a huge impact on the health of so many people,” said Dr. Hilton. “It became obvious that something had to be done to help busy patients remember to schedule their potentially life-saving tests.”
That “something” was a new reminder Web site. In less than one minute, a person can log onto http://www.myhealthtestreminder.com/ , register and choose the health test reminder(s) they want to receive — mammogram, Pap test or colon cancer screening — and when they would like to receive the reminder(s). The site automatically will send a private e-mail reminder on the requested date.
The College of American Pathologists is a medical society serving nearly 16,000 physician members and the laboratory community throughout the world. It is the world’s largest association composed exclusively of pathologists and is widely recognized as the leader in laboratory quality assurance. The CAP is an advocate for high quality and cost-effective patient care.
Take One Minute to Beat Cancer
1) Visit http://www.myhealthtestreminder.com/ .
2) Choose which screening reminder(s)– Pap test, mammogram or colon
cancer screening — you would like to receive and when you would like
to receive it.
3) Log off the computer and get back to your busy life.
4) As soon as you receive your e-mail reminder, call your doctor and
schedule your cancer screen.
College of American Pathologists
CONTACT: Patti Flesher, or Diane Simpson, +1-800-323-4040, ext. 7538, orAnthony Phipps, +1-800-323-4040, ext. 7574, all for College of AmericanPathologists, [email protected]
Web site: http://www.cap.org/http://www.myhealthtestreminder.com/
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