There was a time here in Western New York when it was commonplace for women’s health providers and breast imaging specialists to recommend women get a baseline breast cancer screening in their mid-30’s, unless family or personal history warranted a screening even sooner. That doesn’t seem to be the case any longer, even though the ten-year risk that a woman aged 30-40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in 204.
Female breast cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Age-adjusted death rates have been falling on average 1.3% each year over 2011 to 2020. According to SEER Cancer Statistics Review, a report published annually by the National Cancer Institute, based on current incidence rates from the years the death rate was 19.6 per 100,000 women per year from 2016 to 2020. 12.9% or 1 in 8 of women born in the United States today will develop breast cancer at some time during their lives (1).
The good news is that, overall, female breast cancer survival is good. However, using statistical models for analysis, age-adjusted rates for new female breast cancer cases have been rising on average 0.4% each year over 2010 to 2019.
Why should women under 40 be screened for breast cancer?
About 9% of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age. Breast cancer in young women is more likely to be found at a later stage and often is more aggressive, making it more difficult to treat. It is also more likely to be hereditary than breast cancer in older women.
Why is this so concerning? Although routine screenings for breast cancer don’t usually start until age 40, the statistics provide good reason to consider a baseline screening in your 30’s. The first and foremost reason is that young people might not recognize symptoms of a cancerous lesion, and the second reason being that early detection truly does save lives.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
Learning the symptoms of breast cancer helps women and men know when to talk to their doctor. Some warning signs of breast cancer are:
- New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
- Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
- Irritation or dimpling of breast skin
- Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast
- Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area
- Nipple discharge, other than breast milk, including blood
- Any change in the size or the shape of the breast
- Pain in any area of the breast
- Breast is red and feels warm
What is SonoCiné automated whole breast ultrasound?
OWM Integrative Wellness provides a baseline breast cancer screening solution that does not entail any radiation, compression or contrast with SonoCiné automated whole breast ultrasound (AWBUS) breast cancer screening, an advanced breast screening tool unconstrained by insurance because no prior authorization is required. This revolutionary technology can find tumors as small as 3 mm that the traditional mammogram could miss. Its unique robotic arm literally guides the hand of the ultrasonographer, ensuring that no areas are missed, while taking pictures every 400 microns and saving the entire study as a video. The result is twice as much information for the reading radiologist compared to a traditional handheld ultrasound.
SonoCiné AWBUS is FDA approved as a secondary screening device to a mammogram for dense breast tissue and breasts with implants due to mammogram’s poor ability to find masses in these breast types. Since OWM is unconstrained by insurance, ALL women can benefit from SonoCiné’s ability to find cancers early.
Why Choose OWM Integrative Wellness
At OWM Integrative Wellness, we aim to provide you with comprehensive support and care during your journey of either preventing cancer or staying in remission. We have designed a holistic approach that focuses on evaluating your overall metabolic terrain, conducting necessary lab testing, performing radiological testing, and offering nutritional guidance. Our goal is to address the root causes of cancer and support your body in addressing them before they manifest in disease.
As part of the overall cancer prevention program, OWM offers a naturopathic medical evaluation and treatment, potent intravenous infusions and medical grade supplements to optimize your wellness. If cancer is identified, Dr. Kaplan’s expertise in integrative cancer therapies can help improve resilience with natural targeted therapeutics designed to weaken cancer cells in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment.
Dr. Leonard Kaplan strongly encourages baseline screening for women looking for extra reassurance. He states, “SonoCiné AWBUS exam’s early detection capability can help all women get a peace of mind, not just those with dense breast tissue or breast implants.” Call OWM Integrative Wellness today or request your appointment online.
