CEO’s Corner: Dara Richardson-Heron, MD

Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron appeared as a guest on MARTHA: The Martha Stewart Show discussing breast health and breast cancer awareness.

Breast Cancer Awareness: One Month is NOT Enough

Although October is Breast Cancer awareness month, we at Komen Greater NYC feel that one month is NOT enough. We feel very strongly that Breast Cancer Awareness is something we should think about and talk about EVERY month, not just during the month of October and here’s why.

Over the past 27 years, Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and its 125 Affiliates around the world have collectively contributed over $1.3 billion dollars to eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease as well as innumerable hours sharing information about the importance of breast cancer awareness, public policy, advocacy, treatment and research. For decades the Komen organization and other advocacy organizations have stressed the fact that increased awareness leads to early detection, and early detection saves lives.

However, despite all the time, money and energy spent to increase breast cancer awareness over the past 27 years and highlight the importance of early detection and screening, a recent American Cancer Society report, Cancer Prevention & Early Detection Facts & Figures 2009, revealed the very disturbing news that “only 51.2% of women aged 40 and older reported having a mammogram within the past year” in the U.S. This trend continues in spite of the medical recommendation to have a mammogram annually beginning at age 40 for women at normal risk.

Recent discussions in the media regarding mammography and whether or not it is a useful tool for early detection of breast cancer may be somewhat confusing for the general public and may have lulled individuals into a very dangerous state of complacency. However, I want our Komen Greater NYC constituents to be very clear that mammography is the only proven method for imaging breasts that has been shown to reduce the death from breast cancer.

Further, because we still do not know what causes breast cancer, early detection is the only hope for survival. The five year survival rate for breast cancer, when caught before it spreads beyond the breast is now 98%. This is a significant increase from 74% in 1982 when Susan G. Komen for the Cure® was founded.

Fortunately, the American Cancer Society report also revealed that the death rate from breast cancer has dropped by more than 2% each year over the past 10 years. However, the devastating decline in mammography screening reported by the American Cancer Society is absolutely unacceptable!

As a result, I would like to use this CEO’s corner as a Call to Action to all Komen Greater NYC Constituents:

1. First, I would like to appeal to everyone age 40 or over who has not had a mammogram this year to promise me that you will schedule a mammogram before the end of the year. There is no doubt that education, increased awareness and early detection saves lives and is critical to successfully treating cancer. Some studies show that timely mammography screening of women over age 40 could reduce death rates by 20 to 35 percent.
2. Secondly, I would like to appeal to everyone under the age of 40 who has a family history of breast cancer or other increased risk factors for breast cancer, please schedule an appointment with your doctor before the end of the year to determine when you should begin getting an annual mammogram.
   
   Although 90% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women over the age of 40, many young women under the age of 40 are being diagnosed with breast cancer. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 34. My personal story and many other recent news stories have made us all aware that BC is not just a disease of older women.
3. Thirdly, regardless of your age or gender, I would like for everyone to become familiar with your own body and report any changes in your breasts (such as a lump, hard knot, swelling, redness, discharge, and change in size or shape) to your doctor immediately.
   
   For the men reading this article, although it is quite rare, men can also be diagnosed with breast cancer. Approximately 1,990 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 450 men die of breast cancer every year so it is important for men to be aware of their breast health as well.
4. We should all make a promise to ourselves to begin or continue making healthier lifestyle choices such as:

1. Making healthy life style choices has been shown to decrease the risk of developing breast cancer. However, these lifestyle changes also decrease the risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions.
5. Finally, AFTER you take the steps required to take control of your own health, I would like to appeal to you to consider becoming an advocate for the health of your family members, friends, and colleagues. You can do your part to increase their education and awareness about the critical importance of breast cancer and other preventive health screenings.

It is our shared vision to one day live in a world without breast cancer, a world where we don't lose the people we love so dearly to this devastating disease.

I do hope that the contents of this CEO corner will remind you about the critical importance of taking charge of your health, not just in October, but EVERY month of the year.

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