WHEN EVALUATING the incidence of any type of cancer, the desired trend is downward. Regrettably, the rate of breast cancer among American women stubbornly continues to rise. In fact, the American Cancer Society (ACS) reports that between the years 2012 and 2021 (the most recent decade of data), the incidence of breast cancer increased by 1% annually overall, while women younger than 50 years saw an even steeper increase of 1.4% per year.
Shaili Desai, MD, of The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers, states, “Most likely, everyone reading this article knows someone who has breast cancer. It’s the most common form of cancer among women, with the exception of skin cancer, and we’re seeing it in younger and younger patients, though it’s not known exactly why.”
That’s the concerning news. However, there’s cause for optimism when it comes to breast cancer as well. As Dr. Desai explains, “The good news is, when we catch breast cancer, we’re usually catching it at earlier stages when it’s most treatable and oftentimes curable.”
The current trend in breast cancer mortality supports this observation. While the rate of breast cancer continues to climb, fewer and fewer women are losing their lives to the disease. “Breast cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily since 1989, for an overall decline of 42% through 2021,” states the ACS website (cancer.org).
Dr. Desai notes that one of the most powerful tools for the early detection of breast cancer is women’s knowledge of their own bodies. “I always tell women, ‘You know your breasts best,’ so it’s important to perform routine self-exams, looking for any changes in your breast tissue, such as lumps, bumps, or dimpling; nipple discharge; nipple retraction; or redness or thickness of tissue.”
Of course, routine mammograms are key to early breast cancer detection as well. Women at average risk of developing breast cancer are advised to start getting annual screening mammograms at age 40, while individuals determined to be at higher-than-normal risk might need to start them earlier. Dr. Desai adds, “Also, if a woman has dense breast tissue and something suspicious is found on mammogram, we may supplement her screening with a breast MRI.”
According to Dr. Desai, known risk factors for breast cancer include, among others, having a strong family history of breast cancer, for example having a first-degree relative (a sibling or parent) who had the disease; having certain genetic disorders; starting menstrual periods at an early age; never having been pregnant or having had a late pregnancy; having undergone radiation to the chest wall to treat childhood cancer; and having certain lifestyle habits, such as daily alcohol use, smoking, or being obese.
Another factor contributing to the decrease in breast cancer mortality is the ever-expanding number of cutting-edge treatments available. “There are a lot more treatment options now than even just five years ago,” Dr. Desai notes. “In addition, today’s treatments are more targeted than traditional therapies. For example, immunotherapy, which harnesses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, is showing great promise. It’s even producing encouraging outcomes for patients with triple-negative breast cancer, a form that is very aggressive, rapidly dividing, and quickly spreading.”
Looking to the future, Dr. Desai sees another reason for optimism in the fight against breast cancer, despite its rising incidence. “New vaccine treatments will be coming out in the near future, and I’m really excited to see how well they’ll do in preventing breast cancer in at-risk individuals or preventing recurrence,” she says.
The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers, located at 1200 Medical Center Parkway in Maumee and 4126 N. Holland Sylvania Road, Suite 105 in Toledo, also provides imaging, laboratory, chemotherapy, specialized pharmacy, and IV services. The cancer center consists of 13 physicians and 11 advanced practice providers. The cancer center also has satellite centers in Napoleon, Bowling Green, Wauseon, Bellevue, Oregon, and Monroe.
The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers has earned Patient-Centered Specialty Practice recognition and Oncology Medical Home recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. Oncology homes align systems and resources with coordinated care focused on cancer patients and their needs. This reduces fragmentation, supports shared decision making, and improves the patient experience. They are the first oncology practice in the state of Michigan and the second oncology practice in the state of Ohio to receive this recognition.
For more information, please call The Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers at 419-479-5605. ✲
