Addressing your breast health concerns

by Dixie Mills, MD, FACS

Despite the primary life-nourishing role of our breasts, there is a lot of confusion out there surrounding breast health and oftentimes this confusion can lead to concern and outright fear. While the human breast is miraculous, almost every woman knows of someone who has had breast cancer, so it’s understandable that many women are afraid and have questions.

One of the biggest concerns for women is how hormone therapy might affect their breasts. After the risks with combination HRT were found to outweigh its benefits, investigators discontinued that branch of the Women’s Health Initiative, and millions of women were taken off HRT or stopped on their own to protect them from heart disease, stroke and breast cancer, among other health risks. The other arm, Premarin alone was stopped more recently because of the increase in stroke risk (not breast cancer). But women understandably want to know what all of this means for them as individuals. What are the risks of breast cancer in women after taking conventional forms of HRT, such as Premarin and Prempro? Are there any risks associated with bioidentical estrogens and progesterone?

What I’ve seen in my practice as a breast specialist is that, like most things, breast health is highly personal. Women have different family histories, different lives and exposures, and there are few hard and fast rules. Even breast mammograms — once the gold standard for breast cancer prevention — are now being questioned. We do know that diet, lifestyle and stress relief play important roles in disease prevention, and these are places in our daily lives where we get to have a say. And though we still have a long way to go, we’ve made good progress and learn more every day.

From reports about hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer to the amount of broccoli you eat and the kind of bra you wear, we are given so much information — and misinformation — about maintaining breast health. I know that it can be difficult to keep it all straight. But there are many simple things we can do to help keep our breasts healthy throughout life. The articles that follow address the questions and concerns women have asked us about most concerning their breasts. I hope that you can find some answers and that we can help you on your way to reaching a healthy perspective on this sensitive topic.

Our most popular resources on breast health

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• Answers to our top five breast health concerns in menopause
  Breast health specialist Dixie Mills, MD, talks about changes in women’s breasts in menopause.
• Causes of breast cancer — the estrogen controversy
  Why is it that more women than men get breast cancer? Many find estrogen to be the easy answer, but there’s much more to the story. Read about how different kinds of estrogen affect breast tissue and what the research is showing, so you can make good choices and create better breast health.
• Breast cancer, progestins and natural progesterone — is there a link?
  Scientists agree that progesterone exerts powerful influences on breast physiology, but it has been hypothesized to both reduce risk and to increase risk of breast cancer. But that’s mostly because many mistakenly lump synthetic progestins with the kind we make in our own bodies. Learn why the difference between the two is all-important when it comes to your breasts.
• What — no annual mammogram screening? New recommendations for women
  After years of being told to get mammograms annually, women have a new set of recommendations that have them going less often. Women to Women’s breast health expert Dr. Dixie Mills explains why.
• The state of breast health in 2008 — a conversation between two leaders in the field
  We’ve seen many changes in our culture and in the medical field since the early days of the Breast Health Awareness Month. Breast cancer touches nearly everyone’s life, and women want to know what more they can do to create better breast health for all women than simply marching or wearing a pink ribbon each October. Recommendations from two leaders in the field — breast expert and researcher Dr. Dixie Mills, and Women to Women co-founder Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP — on breast health today.
• Mammograms — what’s best for you?
  Most women over the age of 40 are advised by their practitioners to have yearly mammograms. But current research is showing that regular mammograms aren’t increasing breast cancer survival rates. Does this mean women should stop getting them? Read about the purpose of mammograms, their strengths, shortcomings, and alternatives, so that you can make an informed decision.
• The beautiful, lumpy breast — how fibrocystic breast condition responds to changing hormones
  Fibrocystic breasts often become painful and swollen during the menstrual cycle because of hormonal issues. Women to Women offers tips for restoring hormonal balance and addressing pain related to fibrocystic breasts.
• What is fibrocystic breast condition?
  Many women equate breast lumps with cancer, but the truth is there are many benign causes of breast lumps. Learn more about fibrocystic breast condition so you know what the difference is — and ways to address it.
• Breast cancer awareness — my perspective
  Too many women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year many older women and many younger women, too. What has happened in the last 25 years to make breast cancer so prevalent? Hear from a practicing breast specialist about changes she’s seen in breast cancer research, diagnosis, prevention and treatment over the years, and what the future may look like.
• The mystery of breast pain — and how to solve it
  Female breast pain (mastalgia) has not been studied much, probably because most researchers are men who don’t have breast pain. As a result, the causes of breast pain and tenderness are not well understood, either. But we do know mastalgia is associated with hormonal imbalance, medications, certain foods, and increased stress. Here are some simple steps you can take to help reduce breast pain naturally.
• Breast discharge — is it really just milk?
  Though many women find it worrisome or upsetting, nipple discharge is actually quite common. For the most part, nipple secretion is a benign occurrence. Here’s an explanation for why it occurs and expert advice on what to do about it.
• Causes of breast discharge
  Each woman is unique, and there are many different causes of nipple discharge. Learn about some of the many different factors that can cause breast discharge in women, from hormonal imbalance to medications and more.
• Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC)
  This is a very fast-advancing, but rare form of breast cancer. Information on the key symptoms of IBC is provided here, to raise awareness and to help women be aware of the need to immediately seek diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory breast cancer.

 

Last Modified: 02/16/2010
Principal Author: Dixie Mills, MD, FACS