BRONX, NY,
October 25, 2022-- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), the most common cancer found in women who live in the US, behind
lung cancer and certain skin cancers, is breast cancer. A woman’s
chance of getting breast cancer is dependent upon a combination of risk
factors, some of which are unchangeable. A few examples of unchangeable
risk factors are a woman’s age, certain aspects of reproductive
history (i.e., age of first period, menopause), genetic mutations, breast
density, and family history of breast and ovarian cancer.
Who exactly is at a higher risk for developing breast cancer? Is there
a specific combination of risk factors that determine your chance of developing
the disease? While it is extremely common for a woman to have some of the unchangeable
risk factors related to breast cancer, it is also possible that a woman
who has one or more of these unchangeable risk factors, to not ever be
diagnosed with breast cancer. All risk factors are different, and this
makes it difficult to determine a woman’s chances of developing
the disease based on risk factors alone.
On the bright side, there are so many lifestyle changes that women can
make to decrease their chances of developing breast cancer—these
are called changeable risk factors. Some examples of risk factors that
women can have control over are level of physical activity, weight, taking
hormones (i.e., oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy), alcohol
consumption, and some aspects of reproductive history (i.e., age of first
pregnancy and the decision to breastfeed). For over a decade, the Bronx
has been the unhealthiest borough in New York State—out of the 62
counties, the Bronx comes in last at #62. In the Bronx, the rate of breast
cancer diagnoses has been steadily increasing over the years. However,
since 1976, the rate of mortality caused by breast cancer has significantly
declined. Among the five boroughs in New York City, the Bronx has the
highest rate of prevalent obesity and alcohol consumption, and the lowest
percentage of adults who have exercised in the last 30 days. All these
factors are related to changeable lifestyle choices that are correlated
to diseases like breast cancer.
There is a significant disparity between the health of populations of white
women and minority women in the US. Although white women are more likely
to develop breast cancer compared to Black or Hispanic women, there is
a disproportionate number of breast cancer related deaths in minority
women who live in low-income neighborhoods in New York City. Minority
women who live in the Bronx may be aware of the ways in which they can
act preventatively against breast cancer but may not always have access
to the resources necessary. A reliable medical provider can make a world
of difference for women when it comes to taking care of their health.
Getting regular mammograms and reproductive health screenings are essential
aspects of preventative health care for women.
MHHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center that aims to provide its community
with the highest level of health care and support. The center has been
providing women’s health services in the Bronx for over 40 years,
starting as a Women's Health & Birthing Pavilion, which was the
first out-of-hospital, midwifery-run childbearing center in a low-income
community in the US. MHHC continues to stay pro-active in its goal of
providing preventative health care to its community of women through providing
maternal and reproductive health education, free mammograms, and breast
examinations. MHHC also focuses on providing workshops and access to resources
relevant to women’s health, maternal health, and breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding is an example of one way in which new mothers can lower
their chances of developing breast cancer, while simultaneously providing
the highest nutritional value to their newborn baby.
Unfortunately, the Bronx has the lowest percentage of women who exclusively
breastfeed, compared to the four other boroughs. MHHC’S WIC program
regularly holds educational sessions on breastfeeding to explain the benefits
of breastfeeding for both mothers and babies. Education is at the core
of preventative care within MHHC’s overlying mission to create a
healthier Bronx.In its continuous mission to solve the issue of racial
disparities in women’s health care, MHHC has extended its reach
to the women of the East Flatbush neighborhood in Brooklyn with its Maternal
Center of Excellence and Women’s Health Center at the new MHHC Brooklyn
location, which opened this fall. MHHC’s role in preventing breast
cancer for its communities across the Bronx and Brooklyn is education,
access to healthcare, insurance, and support.
Although breast cancer is a serious disease that affects many women across
the US, the sooner that breast cancer is detected, the higher the survival
rate is for a woman diagnosed with the disease. Yearly mammograms are
the best way for women to catch breast cancer when it is still localized,
meaning that it has not yet spread to other parts of the body. According
to the CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, for females
with breast cancer, the rate of survival is much higher than the mortality
rate. In 2019, there were 264,121 new cases of breast cancer reported
with an 84% survival rate. Even after a diagnosis, there is high hope
for survival through early detection practices and appropriate post-diagnosis
treatment.
MHHC’s Senior Practice Manager and breast cancer survivor, Daphney
Quinones, has been a part of the organization since 2019 and is a real-life
example of a woman who was diagnosed with the disease without the risk
factor of having a family history of breast cancer. Having a family history
of breast cancer is one of the risk factors that can potentially increase
a woman’s chance of developing breast cancer. During her first mammogram,
37-year-old Daphney was diagnosed with stage 3 Ductal Carcinoma in Situ
(DCIS), a non-invasive, localized, type of breast cancer that develops
in the milk duct. It is more common for women over 50 to develop breast
cancer, but it can also occur in younger women, such as in Daphney’
s case. “I felt like I was suspended in time. Everything happened
very quickly.” Daphney states about the moment she received her
shocking diagnosis at her first ever mammogram. She was lucky to receive
high level attention and care by her medical provider to begin the post-
diagnosis treatment plan as quickly as possible— “My oncologist
was super informative and actually picked up the phone to connect me with
a surgeon within their network immediately.”
Daphney began to receive chemotherapy every day for 6 months, one month
after her diagnosis, in preparation for the mastectomy.
Working in healthcare and then being diagnosed with breast cancer was a
hard experience for Daphney, but she said she “felt supported and
loved by her [my] colleagues.” Daphney is now cancer-free and feels
called to share her story to educate women on ways breast cancer can be
detected early as well as to provide support for women going through similar
experiences. As a breast cancer survivor working in healthcare, Daphney
shares, “Don’t be afraid to ask your doctor questions—be
brave enough to advocate for yourself.”
MHHC strives to fully educate their patients on how to decrease their chances
of developing complex diseases such as breast cancer. The women’s
health providers also give female patients the support and resources necessary
in the case of a breast cancer diagnosis. Early detection and time are
of the essence in ensuring a higher chance of surviving this type of disease.
During the month of October, MHHC has been bringing awareness to the importance
of breast cancer screenings and mammograms through having them readily
available to its entire community, including employees, through mobilized
pop-up events or on-site. MHHC honors women during Breast Cancer Awareness
month by raising money for the disease through selling breast cancer awareness
merchandise and collecting donations. If you wish to support MHHC’s
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit MHHC’s main building at 85
W Burnside Ave any weekday in October, from 11 am - 2 pm to donate or
buy a shirt—all proceeds will support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
On October 19th, 21st, 24th, and 27th, MHHC will host breast health education
sessions—follow @mhhc_inc on Instagram for more information.
If you or anyone you know would like to get a mammogram screening or be
examined by a women’s health provider, visit mhhc.org to find a
location near you or call 718- 716-4400 for more information.