What Katie Couric's Breast Cancer Diagnosis Might Mean for You

Many women have been putting off their health screenings. Time to get your mammogram?

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Her story could have been my story; my story could have been hers.

Only there were some stark differences.

My breast cancer was diagnosed in 1988 when I was just 34 years old.

Hers was discovered at age 65, after getting routine annual mammograms for many years.

Like Katie Couric, I had two children, only mine were still in diapers at the time. My two boys were too young to understand the impact a diagnosis of breast cancer would have on their mother.

Katie’s adult children are old enough to know that they, too, must be diligent and use all the best tools available for early diagnosis.

Whatever your age, whatever the age of your children, a diagnosis of breast cancer shakes you to the core. That’s why it’s so important not to run away from information and facts that can save your life.

Katie is sharing her story to bring awareness to the importance of breast cancer screening. And to let women know that a one-step process is not always enough.

Why Mammograms Alone Don’t Always Detect Breast Cancer

Screening mammograms are the best tools for breast cancer detection. But they miss about one in eight cancers.

Important to know: Your breast cancer screening does not have to stop with just a mammogram. There are other screening tests that can be added on; some which should be done if a woman has dense breasts (as in Katie’s case). Because Katie already knew she had dense breasts, her mammograms always included additional screening using breast ultrasound.

Additional imaging tests may include a 3D mammogram (aka breast tomosynthesis, which allows views beyond areas of density); MRI and breast ultrasound.

What to Know About Dense Breasts

About half of women over age 40 have dense breasts, which puts them at a higher risk of breast cancer than a woman with fatty breasts (it’s not known for sure why this is true).

The only way to know for sure if you have dense breasts is through a mammogram. Dense breast tissue cannot be felt.

Risk Factors for Dense Breasts

·      Genetics

·      Postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy

·      Having a low body mass index

Dense Breast Facts

• Having dense breasts can make it tougher to detect cancer on a mammogram, and some cancers will be missed. That’s because the mammogram is harder to decipher: Some tumors and abnormal changes, like calcifications, appear as white areas in the mammogram (and can’t be distinguished between dense breast tissue and cancer).

• Women with dense breasts - which are composed of relatively high amounts of glandular and fibrous connective tissue with low amounts of fatty breast tissue -  tend to be called back more often for follow-up tests. They also tend to develop something called “interval breast cancer;” which means their cancer is diagnosed within just 12 months of a normal mammogram

• Thirty-eight states require mammography providers to inform you if they find dense breast tissue in your mammogram. But only 14 of these states require that if you have dense breasts, your insurance covers you for supplemental imaging tests. Take a look here for more info.

So, When Should You Get Your First Mammogram?

This is a tough one. Many people are surprised to hear that back in 1988, my doctor suggested I get a screening mammogram at 35 (and thank goodness I went before then!)

Since then, the recommendations have been wildly shifting.

Some medical societies suggest you assess your breast cancer risk with your OB-GYN. Since some individuals have different risk factors than others (like family history, etc.), earlier or additional screening may be suggested.

The American Cancer Society states that “Women ages 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so.”

The bottom line?

• Get screened. Don’t put it off. COVID put so many of us behind in our health screenings. Don’t fall into that trap…make your appointment!!

• If you see or feel something, say something. True story: Many years ago, soon after I was diagnosed, a friend of mine was dismissed by her doctor after a negative routine mammogram. But my friend told me how worried she still was because of a lump that would not go away. I pleaded with her to insist on having the lump biopsied. She did. And….it was cancer. She was successfully treated with surgery and chemo and is healthy today.  

• Don’t think that just because breast cancer doesn’t run in your family, you are not at risk. You might be surprised to learn just the opposite.

In the next issue of thePause newsletter, I’ll uncover some things you might think about breast cancer (but are wrong), and other facts you might not know about.

In the meantime, in case you missed this, here’s how to reduce your breast cancer risk after menopause.

For a Pause…

1.     Why do so many of us clam up when we need to stand up to our docs? Don’t be shy!

2.     If you want to check out what the other mammogram screening guidelines say, here you go.

3.     Here’s Katie Couric’s story, straight from her (ever-so-grateful) perspective.

4.     Going for a mammogram is not hard, but there are some things to think about in advance that can make it go more smoothly.

And finally..

Breast cancer explained, straight from the Mayo Clinic:

If you like what you’re reading, don’t keep it a secret!

Until next time, stay well. Stay healthy. Stay safe.

And get your mammogram!!

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