NYP Brooklyn Methodist

Winter 2017

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A diagnosis of breast cancer can be devastating. Alan Astrow, M.D., chief of medical oncology and hematology at New York Methodist, recommends staying informed about changes in your breasts and scheduling screening mammograms as recommended by your doctor. These measures can help detect breast cancer at earlier stages, when it is easier to treat and outcomes are most favorable. Take this quiz to test your breast cancer knowledge. Women who have a family history of breast cancer are more likely to develop the disease than women who do not. a. True b. False Answer: a. True. Women who have a first-degree relative—a mother or sister with breast cancer— are more likely to have mutations of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes and have an increased risk of breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations are responsible for an estimated 20 to 25 percent of hereditary breast cancers and five to ten percent of all breast cancers. Genetic mutation of the BRCA genes may be inherited from the mother or the father. What symptoms are associated with breast cancer? a. Pain in the breast b. Skin irritation c. Discharge from the nipple d. All of the above Answer: d. All of the above. A variety of symptoms may indicate cancer of the breast. Additional signs include thickening of the skin or nipple, swelling of the breast, retraction of the nipple, in which it turns inward, or dimpling of the skin. Breast cancer is easy to spot because warning signs are always evident. a. True b. False Answer: b. False. "For the most part, breast cancer has no symptoms," Dr. Astrow says. "People can have a cancerous lump in the breast and not feel anything. That is why following national mammogram guidelines is important." Which treatments are utilized for breast cancer? a. Chemotherapy b. Radiation c. Mastectomy d. All of the above Answer: d. All of the above. There are more options for treating breast cancer than ever before. One or more of these may be used. Breast cancer only affects women. a. True b. False Answer: b. False. Though it is 100 times more likely that the disease will develop in women, men are not immune. A man with a family history of breast cancer should be aware of symptoms and talk with his doctor about risks and concerns. Breast Cancer Symptoms P H Y S I C I A N RE F E R R A L / / 718 . 49 9. C A RE 29 H E A LT H Q U I Z

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