The Villages - October 2021 - 21

Because of her own experiences with breast cancer,
Sudduth emphasizes that her patients should have
yearly mammograms. " We try to get people to have their
mammograms done yearly after they turn 40, " she said.
The Villages Health partners with Lake Medical Imaging
for mammograms, and Sudduth says they have new
diagnostics, mammograms and ultrasounds they can do
now. She says Lake Medical Imaging now does SenoBright
Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography, a type of exam
that highlights areas of unusual blood flow patterns to help
identify breast cancer using a contrasting agent, according
to Sudduth.
Sudduth explains that Lake Medical Imaging also uses
ABUS, or automated breast ultrasound - a specialized type
of breast cancer screening that excels in detecting cancer in
patients with dense breasts.
Sudduth says many women think that if they don't
have a family history of breast cancer or they have tested
negative for the breast cancer gene, then they do not need to
have a yearly mammogram, but she stresses cancer still can
occur. She herself is proof of this - while her mother did
have breast cancer, Sudduth tested negative for the breast
cancer gene.
" The thing that a lot of women say to me is that they
don't have to get a mammogram because nobody in their
family had breast cancer and they don't have to worry
about that, " Sudduth said. " A woman's risk of breast cancer
doubles if she has a first-degree relative, but less than 15%
of women who get breast cancer actually have a family
member (who had it). "
Whether in for treatment or a yearly mammogram,
Sudduth says her patients are able to form a bond with her
due to her own diagnosis - a tighter bond that stems from a
shared experience.
" (My patients have) definitely responded well, " she said.
" I didn't think they would at first, but they confide in me
a lot. 'Oh, I've felt this way - how did you take it?' People
are diagnosed in different stages, and they get different
treatments, so the treatment I had was the best for me, but it
might not be for other people. But I think it's good they can
talk to me about those things because I know what they're
going through. "
BREAST CANCER STATS
Sudduth shares some breast cancer statistics
from BreastCancer.org.
About 1 IN 8 U.S. WOMEN (about 13%)
will develop invasive breast cancer over the
course of her lifetime.
Death rates have been steady in women
under 50 since 2007, but have continued to
drop in women over 50. The overall death
rate from breast cancer decreased by 1% per
year from 2013 to 2018. These decreases
are thought to be the result of TREATMENT
ADVANCES AND EARLIER DETECTION
THROUGH SCREENING.
As of January 2021, there are more than
3.8 MILLION WOMEN with a history of
breast cancer in the U.S. This includes
women currently being treated and women
who have finished treatment.
Breast cancer is the MOST COMMONLY
DIAGNOSED CANCER among American
women. In 2021, it's estimated that about
30% of newly diagnosed cancers in women
will be breast cancers.
A WOMAN'S RISK OF BREAST CANCER
nearly doubles if she has a first-degree
relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has
been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less
than 15% of women who get breast cancer
have a family member diagnosed with it.
ONLINE
RESOURCES
Breast Cancer Information and Support: BreastCancer.org
National Cancer Institute: cancer.gov/types/breast
American Cancer Society: cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html
Breast Cancer Resource Center: bcrc.org
MAGAZINE
21
tatianazaets/iStock / Getty Images Plus
monkeybusinessimages/iStock / Getty Images Plus
http://www.BreastCancer.org http://www.BreastCancer.org http://www.cancer.gov/types/breast http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html http://www.bcrc.org
The Villages - October 2021

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