E-cigarettes, the tobacco cigarette alternative that was supposed to be a healthier and not cause cancer.  New reports are showing that, in fact, e-cigarettes are not the cancer risk-free alternative many smokers were looking for.  Medical News Today explains how popular e-cigarettes have become and the science behind them, “Use of e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) has become popular in the US; a recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that almost 13% of Americans have tried e-cigarettes at least once in their lifetime, with more than a fifth of adults aged 18-24 having used the devices. While e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco – like conventional cigarettes – the vapor produced by the device and inhaled by users does contain nicotine flavorings and other chemicals. Nicotine is the chemical that makes smoking addictive.”  That statistic is interesting because it is not just 13% of the smoking population but 13% of all Americans –  a staggering statistic.  While e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, they do contain nicotine and other chemicals.  So far, there has been limited evidence as to the effects those chemicals can have on the body but we are beginning to see more and more scientific reports rolling in that e-cigarettes, in addition to traditional cigarettes, pose a very real cancer risk.

For those that are looking to reduce their cancer risk by quitting smoking and looked to e-cigarettes as the “healthier” or “safer” option, it is important to understand what science studies are showing about the link between e-cigarettes and cancer.  Science Daily reports on the research regarding the link to cancer, “Adding to growing evidence on the possible health risks of electronic cigarettes, a lab team at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System tested two products and found they damaged cells in ways that could lead to cancer. The damage occurred even with nicotine-free versions of the products. “Our study strongly suggests that electronic cigarettes are not as safe as their marketing makes them appear to the public,” wrote the researchers, who published their findings in the journal Oral Oncology… “There haven’t been many good lab studies on the effects of these products on actual human cells,” says Dr. Jessica Wang-Rodriquez, one of the lead researchers on the new study… Her team created an extract from the vapor of two popular brands of e-cigarettes and used it to treat human cells in Petri dishes. Compared with untreated cells, the treated cells were more likely to show DNA damage and die… Scientists already know of some troubling chemicals in the products. One is formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Using the products at a low voltage setting may minimize the production of formaldehyde, research suggests. Another possible culprit is diacetyl, a flavoring agent that has been linked to lung disease. A Harvard study found it in more than three-quarters of flavored e-cigarettes and refill liquids, or “e-juice.”  What this should tell us all is that it is critical that you do your research and learn about the ingredients of products you ingest or put your body and whether or not they may increase your risk of cancer.  That may feel overwhelming but the other thing that is important to note is that before making any changes to your diet, intake of supplements, exercise routine or anything else you should always consult your physician and discuss if it is the best option for your health.  While we may have more research regarding the link between tobacco cigarettes and cancer, e-cigarettes are relatively new and research is still in its infancy.  We are already beginning to see reports that there is a link to cancer and only time will tell if we will begin to see more studies that link e-cigarettes to an increased risk of cancer.

Lung cancer is the most deadly cancer among men and women in the United States as well as internationally.  The American Lung Association discusses how many people get lung cancer and why it is such a big concern and, that, while the majority of lung cancer cases are related to smoking, not all are, “An estimated 158,040 Americans are expected to die from lung cancer in 2015, accounting for approximately 27 percent of all cancer deaths… During 2015, an estimated 221,200 new cases of lung cancer were expected to be diagnosed, representing about 13 percent of all cancer diagnoses… Smoking, a main cause of small cell and non-small cell lung cancer, contributes to 80 percent and 90 percent of lung cancer deaths in women and men, respectively. Men who smoke are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer. Women are 13 times more likely, compared to never smokers. ”

Lung cancer is typically treated with a variety of treatment options including surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.  New advancements in lung cancer treatments and therapy have many excited about the potential they hold.  Time elaborates on the advancements in lung cancer treatment, “On March 5, a novel way to treat lung cancer won approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The latest drug, Opdivo, has showed promise with other cancers, and is the first to use the immune system to tackle hard-to-treat lung tumors. Opdivo (nivolumab), made by Bristol-Myers Squibb, works the same way that releasing a parking brake frees a car to move. Normally, the immune system is held back from recognizing tumors as foreign and potentially harmful, since tumors are the body’s own cells that grow abnormally. Without such checks, “the immune system will destroy you,” says Dr. James Allison, chair of immunology at MD Anderson Cancer Center who discovered the first such brake that protected cancer cells from the immune system. But nivolumab releases this check on the immune system’s normally voracious appetite for anything it doesn’t recognize, so the body’s own defenses can preferentially recognize tumor cells as targets. In the study submitted by the company to the FDA, 15% of patients showed some shrinkage or complete disappearance of their tumors… Unlike surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or the anti-cancer drugs that interrupt specific signals that tumor cells use to survive, nivolumab doesn’t target the tumor itself. Rather it focuses on the environment in which the tumor lives, unleashing the immune system so it can recognize cancer cells more easily. “This drug doesn’t treat cancer; it doesn’t kill cancer cells so you can’t inject it and expect cancer to melt away immediately because it won’t,” says Allison. But when it’s combined with tumor-targeted treatments, what it could do is lower the risk of recurrent cancers by training the body’s T cells to recognize specific features of tumors, just as they do for viruses and bacteria, so the immune system can be alerted more quickly and efficiently to dispatch any returning or remaining cancer.”  Additionally, the FDA recently approved another drug called Keytruda for treatment of lung cancer.  The FDA explains how Keytruda can be used, “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted accelerated approval for Keytruda (pembrolizumab) to treat patients with advanced (metastatic) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has progressed after other treatments and with tumors that express a protein called PD-L1… Keytruda works by targeting the cellular pathway known as PD-1/PD-L1 (proteins found on the body’s immune cells and some cancer cells). By blocking this pathway, Keytruda may help the body’s immune system fight the cancer cells.”  These are exciting advancements and if you think you may be able to benefit from these treatments, or are just curious to learn more, consult your physician to discuss potential treatment options so that you can receive medical advice based on your personal health history.

When you are undergoing cancer treatment your physician will discuss with you possible treatment options and what the short-term and long-term side effects are.  Unfortunately, the very treatments that will help you beat cancer have potential side effects that may impact you soon, or even long, after you treatment has ended.  While these side effects may not necessarily outweigh the benefits of using the treatment, it is still important to be informed and carefully weigh your treatment decisions.  This often leaves people with the question – how long after receiving chemotherapy treatment does the chemotherapy actually leave my body?  Does it wear off after a few hours or days like other medications or does it stay in my system much longer?  These questions are common and ones that it is important to get the answers to.

What are the side effects of chemotherapy?

Chemotherapy is a medication that works throughout the whole body to attack, and hopefully kill, cancer cells.  There are hundreds of different kinds of chemotherapy medications and some are used individually while others may be combined for treatment.  Chemotherapy can be administered a number of ways but common ways include orally and intravenously.  The chemotherapy itself stays in the body within 2 -3 days of treatment but there are short-term and long-term side effects that patients may experience.  Not all patients will experience all side effects but many will experience at least a few.  Short term side effects may include hair loss, nausea, fatigue, fingernail and toenail weakness, pain, mouth or throat soreness, loss of menstrual periods, weight gain, insomnia, constipation, diarrhea, anemia, changes in white blood cell count and more.  The good news is that many of these symptoms are short-term and will go away once chemotherapy treatment is discontinued.

How Chemotherapy Impacts Your Body After Treatment:

Long-term side effects of chemotherapy are frustrating but, unfortunately, possible.  It is important to go into treatment with eyes open to long-term side effects  so that you can make the best decision for your health and wellbeing.  Long-term side effects may include higher risk of infection, heart problems, lung problems, endocrine system problems,  loss of fertility, early menopause, diminished cognitive function, nerve damage, reduced lung capacity, hearing loss, increased risk of stroke, loss of tooth enamel and dental problems and more.  Some of these long-term side effects are associated with certain forms of chemotherapy so it is best to discuss potential side effects of the specific types of chemotherapy you use to treat cancer with your physician.  Though these side effects sound harsh and it is frustrating and concerning that you may end up with long-term side effects, your life may just be saved by chemotherapy so it does not diminish the value of chemotherapy in cancer treatment.

Contact the Team at Palo Verde today to further discuss the right treatment option for you.

As with any form of cancer, with blood cancer, it is important to know what potential symptoms or warning signs might be and be vigilant about seeing a physician should any arise.  Some cancer symptoms are more common and well-known than other kinds.  For example, many people know that changes in skin appearance or the shape of a mole may be a sign of skin cancer.  Most women know that if they find a lump in their breast that it may be a sign of cancer and that they should see a physician.  But, blood is entirely inside the body and many people may not be familiar with what to watch for when it comes to blood cancer.  Blood cancer, also known as hematologic cancer, typically starts in the bone marrow and then begins to affect blood cells but it can take on a variety of forms.

Types of blood cancer include leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.  Leukemia is a cancer that originates in blood-forming tissue.  Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in cells that are known as lymphocytes, which are in the lymph nodes or lymphatic tissue.  Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections and stay healthy.  Hodgkin lymphoma starts in lymphocytes just like non-Hodgkin lymphoma but the distinction between the two types is made when the doctor examines the cells themselves.  Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is far more common than Hodgkin lymphoma.  Hodgkin lymphoma is characterized by what is known as Reed-Sternberg cells which are large, mature cancer cells.  While non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common, Hodgkin lymphoma has a higher survival rate than non-Hodgkin lymphoma.  Finally, multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in blood plasma cells.

Knowing and recognizing potential blood cancer symptoms can potentially help save your life, or the life of someone you know.  Of course, any of the symptoms we will mention may be symptoms of something else entirely and not of blood cancer but it is important to see your physician to discuss any symptoms you might be experiencing.  Symptoms of blood cancer include a persistent, unexplained fever, chills, persistent fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, unexplained weakness, night sweats, bone and/or joint pain, headaches, shortness of breath, abdominal discomfort, frequent infections, swollen lymph nodes, skin rash or itchiness, and a tendency to bleed or bruise easily.  If you notice any of these symptoms it is important to consult your physician who will be able to offer advice and run testing to investigate what may be causing the symptoms.

While not all who have cancer will experience it, some cancer patients may experience pain.  This may be pain from the cancer itself or pain from various treatment forms but the last thing someone wants to deal with when they are treating cancer is pain.  Mayo Clinic elaborates on what causes pain during cancer treatment, “Cancer pain can result from the cancer itself. Cancer can cause pain by growing into or destroying tissue near the cancer. Cancer pain can come from the primary cancer itself — where the cancer started — or from other areas in the body where the cancer has spread (metastases). As a tumor grows, it may put pressure on nerves, bones or organs, causing pain. Cancer pain may not just be from the physical effect of the cancer on a region of the body, but also due to chemicals that the cancer may release in the region of the tumor. Treatment of the cancer can help the pain in these situations. Cancer treatments — such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery — are another potential source of cancer pain. Surgery can be painful, and it may take time to recover. Radiation may leave behind a burning sensation or painful scars. And chemotherapy can cause many potentially painful side effects, including mouth sores, diarrhea and nerve damage.” Fortunately, while pain during cancer treatment is not ideal, there are a variety of ways to treat and manage cancer pain.  If you are experiencing pain it is important to consult your physician who will be able to provide you individualized advice based on your unique health and diagnosis.  Cancer pain management can come in the form of medication or other non-medication options.  Below we explore some possible ways to manage cancer pain so that you can focus on what matters most during cancer treatment, beating cancer and improving your health.

Pain Management During Cancer Treatment:

1. Opioid Pain Medication

• Opioid medications are narcotic drugs that are used for moderate – severe pain control during cancer treatment.  These are prescription drugs that your doctor will recommend and they may be prescribed alongside other non-opioid medications to help manage pain.  A few examples of these medications include Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Morphine, Dilauded, Fentanyl and more.  Dosage of opioid medication will be determined by your physician as a part of your cancer pain management plan and can be adjusted as needed should pain decrease or increase.  It is important to always consult your physician if an adjustment to dosage is needed to ensure proper opioid safety for your health.

2. Non-Opioid Pain Medication

• Non-Opioid pain medication is over-the-counter  medication such as acetaminophen or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen or aspirin.  These medications help manage pain and reduce inflammation and are typically recommended for milk – moderate pain control.  While they are over-the-counter medications that do not require a prescription, it is still wise to consult your physician before adding them to your pain management plan because some opioid medications also contain things like Tylenol or NSAIDs.

3. Complimentary Therapy

• While medication may be the most effective form of pain management during cancer treatment, many have found that complimentary therapy can make a great addition or even work just as well for certain forms of pain.  Complimentary therapy may include physical therapy, acupuncture, massage and more.

Clinical trials exist to test safety and efficacy of new drugs or treatments for a variety of diseases, syndromes and conditions.  Some who have been diagnosed with cancer may contemplate whether or not a clinical trial is right for them or if they should opt for a more traditional or “proven” option for treatment.  There are a variety of benefits and risks to clinical trial and all of these should be discussed with your treating physician to determine what is best for you and your health.

First, it is important to take a careful look at the benefits of participating in a clinical trial because if they did not exist we would not be having this conversation.  One of the first, and most apparent, benefits of participating in a clinical trial is that you may have access to treatment that is not yet available.  Next, you will be closely monitored by a team of highly skilled cancer physicians and scientists so you know you will be in good hands with very focused care.  Additionally, with some clinical trials there is short-term and long-term follow-up care that may be available to you.  By participating in a clinical trial you may receive treatment at a reduced or free cost depending on the specific clinical trial in which you are enrolled.  Also, if you participate in a clinical trial you will get to have the knowledge that you have helped further cancer treatment and provide valuable research that may help better treat cancer in the future.  All of these benefits are significant, providing empowerment by taking control of your healthcare, pride in potentially helping to save lives in the future and possible early access to the newest, most-groundbreaking treatments available.

While the benefits we discussed are immense and compelling, it is still critical that you weigh both the benefits and the risks to have a full picture when making your decision.  When participating in a clinical trial you may have access to the newest treatments but you also may not.  While you will not receive a “placebo,” you may receive the best available standard cancer treatment but not the new treatment that is being tested because not all participants can receive the new treatment.  An additional drawback of participating in a clinical trial, even if you do receive the newest treatment, it may not work for you (though this is the risk you take when choosing any treatment plan).  Also, because you are participating in a clinical trial that is testing out a new treatment protocol, not all potential side effects may be known.  This means that you may experience some unpleasant, and potentially very serious side effects.  These side effects may be less, the same or worse than the side effects that you may experience with standard cancer treatment.  Finally, participating in a clinical trial may take of your time and energy and may even be inconvenient.  Some short travel, extra appointments or additional lab work may be required when participating in a clinical trial.  While this may seem small, consider how you may be feeling during cancer treatment and determine whether or not this potential inconvenience may be too much for you while undergoing treatment.  If the benefits outweigh the risks, or you have exhausted other avenues of treatment and your physician recommends a clinical trial, participating in a clinical trial can be a rewarding experience with many potential advantages for your cancer treatment.

Learning that you have cancer is difficult enough without having to deal with insurance headaches.  If you have health insurance at the time of your diagnosis you may have a variety of questions.  Will my health insurance cover treatment?  How much coverage will I get and are their limits to coverage?  How much will this cost me out of pocket?  Will my premiums skyrocket?  Am I going to have to constantly be on the phone with insurance throughout my treatment process?  After a diagnosis the most important thing to focus on is getting healthy and health insurance should not be a distraction but, for many, navigating the health insurance world with a cancer diagnosis can be tricky and frustrating.

Coverage varies significantly between providers and individual plans but health insurance will cover treatment to varying degrees.  Even with an incredible health insurance plan with optimal coverage, there will likely be out-of-pocket costs associated with your care.  Once you have been diagnosed the first thing you need to do is make sure you have a physical copy and/or an electronic copy of your up-to-date health insurance plan and coverage.  .  This will provide you important information about your coverage as well as contact information.  The key to navigating insurance after a diagnosis is being well-informed.  The more information you have about what your insurance allows and covers, the more comfortable you will be with making decisions without fretting. For example – does your insurance cover a second opinion?  What are your copays?  Do you have an out-of-pocket-maximum?  These are the sort of questions to educate yourself on right away.  If your health insurance is through your employer make an appointment to discuss coverage with your Human Resources representative because the can also be a wealth of information and assistance when navigating insurance after a diagnosis.

When you call your insurance company to discuss your care with them, ask to be assigned a case manager who you can speak to each time you call so that you do not have to constantly explain your situation but rather can deal with someone who is, at least vaguely, familiar with your situation.  When you ask questions write down answers in a notebook and keep good records, along with the name of who you spoke with so that, should the need arise in the future, you can reference your notes for answers.  When speaking with your insurance company, do not be afraid to ask the same question multiple times until you feel you understand the answer well.  If you are having a hard time getting answers or feel uncomfortable with the insurance representative you are speaking, ask to speak to someone else or a manager.  While being polite can go a long way in life, you should never sacrifice getting answers for being polite.  It is incredibly important to get answers about coverage right away and you need to speak to whoever is necessary to get your answers.  Additionally, find out about prescription coverage because there are frequently prescriptions involved in cancer treatment and some may be quite expensive.  It is also important to discuss dates and clarify coverage – are you covered for the calendar year or does the insurance company use a different schedule for your year of coverage?  If something is denied that you believe should be covered file an appeal.  If your appeal is denied and you still believe you are correct seek legal counsel immediately because there are lawyers who specialize in understanding health insurance coverage and dealing with insurance companies.  While doctors and their staff deal with insurance companies on a daily basis there is no way for them to be familiar with each individual plan so it is best to not rely on them for information but rather arm yourself with information so that you can have peace of mind about your coverage and get the treatment you.

When you have been diagnosed with cancer it can feel a little tricky to navigate such a new world, filled with a lot of information that may be confusing. What kind of treatment is right for you?  What is the next best step for you to make moving forward so that you can optimize your health and fight the disease?   How do I know this is the correct diagnosis and treatment plan for me?  So many questions will arise immediately and in the days following a diagnosis and that is perfectly normal.  What is also perfectly normal is the desire to seek a second opinion regarding your diagnosis.  People may worry that it is “cheating” on their doctor to seek a second opinion but that is the furthest thing from the truth.  In fact, many doctors will actually encourage you to seek a second opinion to affirm their diagnosis and ensure that it is correct so that you can formulate the best treatment plan for your individual circumstances.  It is important to seek a second opinion not only to learn more about your diagnosis and ensure that it is comprehensive and correct but to ensure that you are completely comfortable with your treating physician.  Every personality is different and it is important to feel comfortable with your oncologist, as well as the treatment plan, so that you can focus on getting healthy.

When seeking a second opinion it is natural to fear that you may offend your first oncologist.  It is important to know this – if your first oncologist expresses offense or discourages you from seeking a second opinion based purely on ego – choose another doctor.  While there are certain times that time is very much of the essence, and the sooner you begin treating your cancer the better, but it should never be at the sacrifice of your comfort with your physician and treatment plan.  What many find is that, actually, most oncologists encourage their patients to seek a second opinion because two minds are better than one and a second opinion can provide an important (and sometimes necessary!) chance to examine the situation fully and explore every possibility for treatment to increase the chance of survival.  While certain things in medicine are an exact science, there is also much interpretation on the physician’s part and that interpretation can vary significantly, significantly impacting the diagnosis and approach to treatment.  NBC News shares an interesting statistic that reinforces just how important it is to seek a second opinion, “As we discovered, getting another doctor’s view can dramatically change a treatment plan and even a diagnosis — research finds it happens in as many as 30% of cases. In one particularly dramatic finding recently published in the journal Cancer, the recommendations for surgery changed for more than half of breast cancer patients who received a second opinion. In some cases, previously undiagnosed second tumors were discovered. Still, almost 50% of Americans never get second opinions, according to a 2005 Gallup poll. But it’s key to getting the best diagnosis and treatment, says James Rohack, MD, a trustee with the American Medical Association and a cardiologist in Temple, TX. “You may even prevent an unnecessary procedure or the cost and side effects of medication you might not need.” If you have been diagnosed with cancer, speak to your physician about getting a second opinion.  Your physician will likely encourage it and may even have a recommendation for who to see.  You are not cheating on your physician and they know that, they understand that a second set of eyes is never a bad thing.  The bottom line is – it is your life and if a second opinion will provide more information, make you more comfortable, or help your treating team to find the best solution for your care, then you should absolutely seek a second opinion without hesitation.

After a cancer diagnosis it is important to explore all possible treatment options.  What many people find is that there are a wide variety of treatment options, each with their own unique set of advantages and drawbacks.  While many are familiar with what chemotherapy and radiation are, immunotherapy may not be quite as familiar.  The American Cancer Society provides a brief description of what immunotherapy is, “Immunotherapy is treatment that uses certain parts of a person’s immune system to fight diseases such as cancer. This can be done in a couple of ways: Stimulating your own immune system to work harder or smarter to attack cancer cells; giving you immune system components, such as man-made immune system proteins. Some types of immunotherapy are also sometimes called biologic therapy or biotherapy. In the last few decades immunotherapy has become an important part of treating some types of cancer. Newer types of immune treatments are now being studied, and they’ll impact how we treat cancer in the future. Immunotherapy includes treatments that work in different ways. Some boost the body’s immune system in a very general way. Others help train the immune system to attack cancer cells specifically. Immunotherapy works better for some types of cancer than for others. It’s used by itself for some of these cancers, but for others it seems to work better when used with other types of treatment.”  While the concept of immunotherapy has been around for some time, the use of it in cancer treatment is relatively new compared to other cancer treatments.  While it is new, many scientists and doctors are very excited about its use and the prospect it holds for the future.

Immunotherapy is not a magic bullet and it may not be the right course of treatment for everyone but, in essentially every form of cancer, there are patients who respond positively to immunotherapy.  Immunotherapy is not only improving treatment effectiveness but improving long-term survival rates.  Recently, Jimmy Carter was in the news sharing his success story with immunotherapy and, as Forbes points out, how effective and promising immunotherapy is proving to be, “The relevance of the news that former president Jimmy Carter’s melanoma is being treated partially with Keytruda, the Merck & Co drug that stimulates patients’ immune systems to fight cancer, goes far beyond simply demonstrating how important immunotherapy has become in oncology treatment. Carter is almost 91 years old—making him perhaps the most high-profile patient yet to show how these treatments are offering new options for elderly people facing the most serious stages of cancer… In the past, cutting-edge drugs were often out of reach for elderly patients because the harsh side effects were considered too big a risk for people who might be frail or suffering from other health conditions. But compared to chemotherapy, which usually causes toxic effects like extreme nausea and hair loss, immunotherapy drugs have proven to be quite mild. Only 6% of patients in clinical trials stopped taking the drug due to side effects, according to the patient information Merck provides… There were plenty of older patients in the Keytruda clinical trials. The label of the drug lists one trial with a median age of 61 and an age span that reached 94. That’s important: The age of the average melanoma patient is 62, according to the American Cancer Society, and the five-year survival rate when the cancer has spread is only about 15%… In addition to Keytruda, Yervoy (ipilimumab) and Opdivo (nivolumab) from Bristol-Myers Squibb have been approved to treat metastatic melanoma. Some of these drugs are being used in combination with each other or with older therapies, causing median survival times for patients newly diagnosed with the disease to jump from less than a year to well over two years. Some patients on combination immunotherapies have seen their cancers completely melt away.”  More research is certainly needed since, in the world of medicine, immunotherapy is still quite new but the findings are incredibly encouraging and provide both doctors and patients with a lot of hope for the future of cancer treatment.

Over the years we have heard a variety of differing opinions when it comes to breast cancer screening.  It can be confusing to know at what age we should start screening and what kinds of screening are appropriate based on personal health history.  Part of the confusion stems from the fact that not all organizations agree on screening guidelines so, first and foremost, it is important to speak to your physician.  It is important to understand what risk level you are when it comes to breast cancer because some people are at a higher risk than others and may need earlier and more comprehensive screening. If you have no symptoms, have no history of cancer, have no “first degree” family history (parent, sibling, child), and don’t have a history of radiation exposure then you are at an “average” risk level for the population.  This means that you do not need early screening but can follow general guidelines when it comes to breast cancer screening.  If you have a family history of breast cancer, have certain kinds of benign breast conditions, have a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, or have been exposed to radiation you are at higher than average risk level for breast cancer.

For women that are at an average risk level for breast cancer it is important to conduct routine self exams and watch for any changes in breast size, shape, texture or visual appearance.  Routine screening should begin at the age of 40 but what exactly that means varies by organization.  Some organizations believe that women should begin getting mammograms once every 1 – 2 years at the age of 40, some other organizations recommend waiting until age 45, and some recommend age 50.  Some recommend choosing the age to begin screenings after 40 at the discretion of the physician and patient.  For women with a higher-than-average risk of cancer, recommendations will be made based on their personal health history and routine screening may start very early but, on average, begins at age 30.  In addition to physician recommendations and organization recommendations, your insurance company may influence your decision to undergo routine screening.  Some think – why not start screening early, what can it hurt?  But insurance companies determine an age and if you opt to get screening earlier than their pre-determined age you may have to pay for it out of pocket.  Additionally, the primary harm of screening too earl is that it can actually lead to false positives which are upsetting, costly and completely unnecessary.  Ultimately, the best person to talk to about what kind of screening is best for you and when to begin is your physician who knows your health history and can help you determine the best course for your healthcare.