Our annual conversation about breast cancer awareness closes as we say goodbye to October. Many of us took part in heart-felt walks and other awareness-raising events as we worked to support efforts to save our neighbors, sisters, mothers and daughters. This is important work.
Breast cancer continues to take a heavy toll on American women. Unacceptable gaps remain. One in 9 women will develop breast cancer. The devastation this disease has on individuals, families and communities is immeasurable.
During this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month there have been articles and conversations about the latest technological advances to emerge. There have been news stories and discussions about shifting recommended guidelines. We continue to learn and advance our science. Progress comes with a price. We field questions daily from patients wanting to know: What’s the best course of action? When should I get a mammogram? What technology is right for me?
As physician leaders at Group Health, one of the region’s largest health insurers and health care delivery systems, we are keenly aware of the advancing research and science. Experts at the Group Health Research Institute are working to advance our knowledge and understanding of screening and treatment options. As physicians, we meet regularly to discuss these advances to determine how to apply this knowledge to our practice.
Here is what we tell our patients: Talk to your doctor about screening mammograms and your breast cancer risks. We are learning that a “one size fits all” approach may not be the answer. Screening strategies based on individual risk factors and personal preferences may be a better approach. One fact remains certain: Early breast cancer detection through screening allows us to pave the way for optimal treatment and recovery. Screening mammograms play a critical role in this endeavor; the smaller the cancer at the time of detection, the better the overall prognosis.
Group Health leads the region in breast cancer screening rates, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The Washington Health Alliance rates our system as better than average. Still, we know we have work to do.
We have been able to achieve our screening rates through several means. We track who needs to be screened by maintaining an active list of patients of screening age. Then, we reach out to those individuals both in-person and through various outreach activities such as reminder letters and phone calls. By maintaining an updated and active list of all patients eligible for screening mammography, we are able to increase the likelihood that they will get screening.
We strive to utilize what’s known as a “shared-decision making” approach to talk with patients about the benefits and risks of screening. In our experience, women want to know “what is my risk?” We recognize the need to have these important discussions with all of our patients of screening age and we work to see where we can have conversations with women about getting their recommended mammogram. That means if she comes into a clinic with an ear ache, for an eye exam or because of the flu, our clinic staff will encourage and schedule her for her mammogram. Patients are just as likely to get a mammogram reminder at a dermatology appointment as they are in a visit with their primary care clinician.
Every effort is made to reduce the anxiety that may be associated with getting a mammogram. Once a woman is ready to schedule her screening mammogram, she can rest assured that her exam will be of the highest quality and will be interpreted by an expert team of radiologists dedicated to breast imaging.
Breast cancer needs to be a topic of conversation we have year round. Emerging technologies and treatments continue to be introduced and investigated, hopefully leading to new and better ways to detect and treat breast cancer. In the meantime, we encourage all women, and those who love them, to have a conversation with their doctor about screening for breast cancer. That’s the best way to mark the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Dr. Marc W. Mora is chief medical officer at Group Health Cooperative. Dr. Robert Gutierrez is Group Health’s medical director for Breast Imaging Services.
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