Increase Your Breast Awareness
What every woman should know
“In June, I found a lump. I do not have a family history of breast cancer, but I still got it,” says Esther Fabian, cancer survivor and director of health care marketing at The University of Toledo Medical Center.
According to the National Institutes of Health, only five to 10 percent of breast cancer cases are hereditary, which is why breast self-exams and yearly mammograms starting at age 40 are so important for women.
Fabian has worked at the UT Medical Center for 10 years. A large part of her job is developing plans to educate community members about their health. Her decision to be candid about her battle against cancer came from the desire to teach women about early detection and the importance of having highly skilled, coordinated, attentive and compassionate health care teams.
“I’m sharing my experience to help others. As patients, we do not need the anxiety of not knowing what comes next,” says Fabian.
How do women manage their breast health?
The American Cancer Society recommends women between the ages of 20 and 30 have a clinical breast exam (CBE) at least every three years. When they reach age 40, women should have a CBE and mammogram every year.
But, it’s not just about screening. “Women need to increase their breast awareness,” says Anita Leininger, MD, Fabian’s surgeon and assistant professor of surgery and breast diseases at UT Medical Center. “If there is a change in texture, skin, size or hardness, a woman needs to schedule an appointment with her primary care physician or gynecologist for a complete clinical breast exam.” This allows doctors to document the location and description of the mass, so if diagnostic imaging is needed, the radiologists and technicians are better able to direct the studies.
Even if imaging reveals a negative finding, Dr. Leininger urges women to reach out to their gynecologists or primary care physicians. “If the abnormality is still there, it generally warrants a biopsy,” she says. “It’s best to be cautious and catch a malignancy early.”
Fortunately, Fabian’s cancer was caught early. “When I first felt the mass, I figured it was probably something hormonal and didn’t think too much about it,” says Fabian. “My husband was the one who urged me to have it checked.”
Many women dismiss their own health because of their responsibility to take care of everyone else. “Like my husband, men should be persistent with the women in their lives and make sure they stay on top of their health,” says Fabian.
Fabian believes women should take an active role in their health and never delay a doctor’s visit if they have concerns. “Cancer is not a death sentence,” she says. “Not knowing the cause of symptoms is worse than an actual diagnosis, even if it is cancer.”
Fabian began radiation in September after completing two surgeries. Her diagnosis and treatment have moved quickly and Fabian is on the fast track to a full recovery – thanks to her cancer team at UT Medical Center.
Read Esther Fabian’s blog. Or to learn more about women’s health and cancer treatment options at UT Medical Center, call (877) 451-2299.
