Opinion: The Ribbons Are Down. The Habits That Save Lives From Breast Cancer Must Stay.
In this opinion piece, board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Maesha Twyner says a lump is only one warning sign of breast cancer. She recommends mammograms at least every other year for average-risk women ages 40 to 74, clinical breast exams during well-woman visits and regular self-checks for changes like dimpling, thickening, redness or nipple changes. Any new change deserves an evaluation, even after a recent normal mammogram. Men can develop breast cancer too. Black women are roughly 40% more likely to die from the disease than white women, making early detection and equitable care critical. Twyner also urges families to share cancer diagnoses so relatives can access earlier screening.
Every October, pink ribbons go up on storefronts, jerseys and coffee cups across America. Now that the month is over, most of them have come down. Breast cancer does not take the rest of the year off, and neither should we.
As a board-certified OB-GYN, I spend much of my day talking with patients about their health. One common misconception I hear is that a lump is the only warning sign of breast cancer. A lump matters, but it is not the whole story, and waiting for one to appear is no plan.
The best way to lower your risk of dying from breast cancer is to detect it before you ever feel a symptom. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women at average risk get a mammogram every other year from age 40 through 74. Many women choose annual screening, and most insurers must cover annual mammograms beginning at 40. Your doctor can help choose a schedule that fits your health history.
Screening also happens in the exam room. Many women think of their annual visit strictly as “the Pap smear,” but a well-woman exam includes a clinical breast exam that checks skin texture, symmetry, nipple changes and the lymph nodes under the arms. Each visit is also a chance to learn what normal feels like for you.
At home, simply know your baseline. Every so often, stand in front of a mirror and look closely. Notice if one breast appears larger or differently shaped than before. Watch for skin dimpling, thickening, unexplained itching, redness or tenderness along the sides of your breasts and under your arms.
Notice a change? You do not have to diagnose it. Finding answers is my job. Come in for an evaluation, even if you had a normal mammogram a month or two ago. A negative screening result should never cause us to ignore a new physical change.
This applies to men, too. Male breast cancer is rare, but men have breast tissue and can develop the disease. Any man who notices a lump, skin change or nipple discharge should see his doctor right away.
The American Cancer Society estimates about 42,140 women in the United States will die of breast cancer this year, and the burden is not shared equally. Black women have the highest breast cancer mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group and are roughly 40% more likely to die from the disease than white women, despite a slightly lower incidence. Early detection and equitable care are among our most powerful tools to close this gap.
Finally, consider a conversation many families avoid: sharing a cancer diagnosis. Keeping medical news private is understandable, but your diagnosis is vital health information for your sisters, daughters, sons, parents and cousins. A relative’s diagnosis or inherited gene variant may qualify family members for earlier screening, genetic counseling or insurance coverage for higher-level tests. Speaking openly gives loved ones a fair chance to catch cancer early or prevent it altogether.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month may be over, but please make three commitments: schedule your well-woman exam and stay current on mammograms, pay attention to subtle changes in your body, and talk openly with your family about cancer history.
The ribbons have come down. The habits that save lives must stay.
Maesha Twyner, MD, MPH, is a board-certified OB-GYN dedicated to patient-centered women’s health care at The Healthy Woman OB-GYN in Conyers, Georgia. Her background in public health shapes her commitment to early detection, genetic risk education and closing gaps in maternal and preventive care.