October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Mount Sinai Experts Offer Tips on Early Detection and Screening.
A woman born today in the United States has about a 1 in 8 chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during her life, according to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. That's why early detection and screening are keys to saving lives of women diagnosed with the disease.
"There is no question that screening such as mammography not only saves lives, but also, by detecting cancer early, allows many women to avoid chemotherapy and enables us to perform smaller surgeries, such as lumpectomies, for women who choose to do so," says Elisa Port, MD, Chief of Breast Surgery and Co-Director, Dubin Breast Cancer at The Mount Sinai Medical Center.
Mount Sinai experts are available during October's Breast Cancer Awareness month to offer tips on early detection, screening and prevention. Consented-patient stories are also available.
Experts Available for Interview
Dr. Elisa Port, Chief of Breast Surgery and Co-Director, Dubin Breast Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center
Dr. Kerin Adelson, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Dubin Breast Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center
Dr. Laurie Margolies, Director of Breast Imaging, Associate Professor of Radiology, Dubin Breast Center at The Mount Sinai Medical Center
Dr. Sheryl Green, Radiation Oncologist and Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology at The Mount Sinai Medical Center
Dr. Karen Brown, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Genomic Sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Facts About Breast Cancer
- A woman's risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer
- About 15 percent of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.
- About 5 to ten percent of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations (abnormal changes) inherited from one's mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with these mutations have up to an 80 percent risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age (before menopause). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations.
Tips for Breast Cancer Prevention
- Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. Limit yourself to no more than one drink a day.
- Control your weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.
- Be physically active. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer. The recommended activity is 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly.
- Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy. Combination hormone therapy for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer.
- Avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation and environmental pollution. Medical-imaging methods, such as computerized tomography, which uses high doses of radiation, have been linked with breast cancer risk. Additionally, some research suggests a link between breast cancer and exposure to the chemicals found in some workplaces, gasoline fumes and vehicle exhaust.
About the Dubin Breast Center
Encompassing more than 15,000 square feet at 1176 Fifth Avenue, the Dubin Breast Center represents a bold new vision for breast cancer treatment and research—one that focuses on the emotional, as well as the physical health of individuals who have or are at risk of developing breast cancer, as well as survivors and their families, and breast cancer related research aimed at improving treatment choices and survival. The Center also includes an evaluation and treatment center for breast medical oncology and an infusion center for chemotherapy. Additional services include screening, genetic and nutritional counseling, access to research protocols and trials, breast reconstruction, psychosocial support and other complementary services, such as massage therapy, for the patient and his or her family.
About The Mount Sinai Medical Center
The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Established in 1968, the Icahn School of Medicine is one of the leading medical schools in the United States, with more than 3,400 faculty in 32 departments and 14 research institutes. It ranks among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and by U.S. News & World Report. The Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is a 1,171-bed tertiary- and quaternary-care teaching facility and one of the nation's oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. The Mount Sinai Hospital is nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 25 hospitals in 7 specialties based on reputation, safety, and other patient-care factors.
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About the Mount Sinai Health System
Mount Sinai Health System is one of the largest academic medical systems in the New York metro area, with 48,000 employees working across seven hospitals, more than 400 outpatient practices, more than 600 research and clinical labs, a school of nursing, and a leading school of medicine and graduate education. Mount Sinai advances health for all people, everywhere, by taking on the most complex health care challenges of our time—discovering and applying new scientific learning and knowledge; developing safer, more effective treatments; educating the next generation of medical leaders and innovators; and supporting local communities by delivering high-quality care to all who need it.
Through the integration of its hospitals, labs, and schools, Mount Sinai offers comprehensive health care solutions from birth through geriatrics, leveraging innovative approaches such as artificial intelligence and informatics while keeping patients’ medical and emotional needs at the center of all treatment. The Health System includes approximately 9,000 primary and specialty care physicians and 11 free-standing joint-venture centers throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, Long Island, and Florida. Hospitals within the System are consistently ranked by Newsweek’s® “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals, Best in State Hospitals, World Best Hospitals and Best Specialty Hospitals” and by U.S. News & World Report's® “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals.” The Mount Sinai Hospital is on the U.S. News & World Report® “Best Hospitals” Honor Roll for 2024-2025.
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