What's New
New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines You Should Know
If you have been confused in the past by changes in breast cancer screening guidelines,buckle up! Recently, more changes have been passed down as guidelines, so it’s important to make sure you’re knowledgeable. Differing guidelines are espoused by three important groups involved in protecting women from breast cancer. The newest change was announced in May of this year, and is primarily concerned with “individual risk profiles.” Here are the new breast cancer screening guidelines you should know about.
The Three Most Influential Guidelines
There are a number of groups and associations that provide guidelines about breast cancer screening, and we will focus on these three.
- The American Cancer Society
- The US Preventive Services Task Force
- The American Society of Breast Surgeons
The Most Recent Changes and Why
The American Society of Breast Surgeons (ASBrS) is the largest organization of breast cancer surgeons in the US. This group justifies their new guidelines based on their unique perspective of first hand relationship with breast cancer patients and the journey through the disease. They advocate for increased years of life versus costs.
They recommend the following changes:
- All women should undergo a formal risk assessment performed by their physician at age 25 – 30
- Those women with average risk should begin annual screening mammograms at age 40
- Those women with predicted lifetime risks greater than 20% should begin annual mammograms with an MRI offered at age 35
- Screening mammography should stop with the lifespan is less than 10 years (age 74)
The risk assessment should include a full family history of breast cancer, a discussion of genetic testing, and presence of BRCA gene. Women with average risk and dense breasts are recommended to undergo an annual 3D mammography for more thorough analysis of their breast tissue.
The ASBrS believes that catching cancer early increases the odds of a successful treatment and accounts for individual risk profiles. More details about the ASBrS and their approach to early breast cancer diagnosis can be found in their own detailed statement about the topic.
Guidelines Set by the American Cancer Society
This group holds to the following guidelines:
- Women of average risk should begin annual mammograms at age 45 through age 54
- After age 54 mammograms should be performed every other year
Guidelines Set by the US Preventive Services Task Force
This group differs from the other two in its recommendations:
- Women of average risk should begin breast cancer screening at 50 years of age
- These mammograms should be continued every other year until age 74
This organization believes that the issue of risks and adverse effects should determine when and how often women should have breast cancer screenings. There is always the probability of false positives and false negatives, over treatment, unnecessary procedures, additional costs, and anxiety that may lead to inaccurate findings. This causes many doctors to question the value of breast cancer screening including when to begin, how often, and how long to continue said screenings.
What’s Best for You?
It is important to do self exams, clinical exams, and screenings. Implementing all three together are your best defense against breast cancer. Instead of becoming even more confused, have a discussion with Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center to determine a plan that’s right for you.
10 Specific Stomach Pains That Require Further Treatment
We have all had our share of nasty stomach pains after overeating, eating undercooked food, or eating something that has spoiled. We recognize and suffer the consequences, and maybe we pop a couple of antacid pills and move on. At other times our stomach pain can be a more serious situation, like these 10 specific stomach pains that require further treatment.
Tips for Your Kid’s First Day Back to School
The first day back to school after the long summer break might be something your child is dreading (or maybe just a few are excited), and yet it can’t come soon enough for some parents.
10 Sources of Stress Relief to Improve Your General Health
Technology is supposed to make life easier and help us accomplish tasks more quickly, but for many, today’s technological advances have only made life more stressful.
5 Easy Running Strategies To Help You Lose Weight Even Faster
Running can be one of the best ways to lose weight. It’s cheap, you can do it when you want to, how long you want to, and you can do it alone or with a buddy. All you need are some great running shoes and the motivation, but there are certain strategies that can help you to reach your goal.
Here are 5 easy running strategies to help you lose weight even faster!
The Truth About Carbs
Are carbohydrates good for you or will they cause weight gain?
Carbohydrates have a bad reputation and a lot of people who are trying to lose weight end up avoiding them like the plague. But, a majority of nutritionists would agree that carbs are 100 percent necessary for peak athletic performance and a well-balanced diet.
What are Carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are sugars that break down inside the body to create glucose. Glucose is moved around the body in the blood and is the primary source of energy for the brain, muscles, and other essential cells. Carbs provide four calories of energy per gram and are the body’s preferred fuel source for cardio training, weight lifting and sports.
Are All Carbs Created Equal?
Well, no. Before you binge on white rice and cake, it’s important to know that there are good carbs and bad carbs.
Good Carbs
Good carbs are moderate in calorie density, devoid of refined sugars, high in naturally fiber, very low cholesterol, and high in nutrients. Some examples of good carbs include brown rice, whole wheat pasta, quinoa, starchy vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables.
Bad Carbs
Bad carbs are high in refined sugars, low in fiber, low in nutrients, high in saturated fat, and high in cholesterol. The main issue with eating bad carbohydrates is they often cause your insulin levels to spike.
How Many Carbs Should I Be Eating Each Day?
Experts suggest that carbohydrates make up 45 to 65 percent of your daily caloric intake. This translates to about 225 to 325 grams per day.
Contact your physician or a nutritionist if you want more information on carbohydrates in your diet.
How Long Does it Take to See Weight Loss Results?
Many people who are trying to lose weight get overwhelmed because they assume they have to lose a substantial amount of weight in order to reap the benefits.
While your weight loss goal depends greatly on your current weight, a recent study published in Cell Metabolism found that you can start benefiting from weight loss when you lose as little as five percent of your body weight. The study showed that patients:
- Reduced the amount of dangerous fat around the abdomen. Having a large amount of belly fat can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure.
- Lowered triglyceride levels
- Lowered blood pressure
- Improved how their bodies used insulin, which decreases the chance of getting diabetes and improves blood-sugar levels.
- Lowered heart rates
Tips on Getting to a Healthy Weight
If you’re aiming to lose weight, setting a goal of five percent is a good start. Here are a few tips to get to a health weight:
- Tweak your lifestyle. If you’re looking to lose weight, you need to make long-term changes to keep the weight off and stay healthy.
- Focus on health eating. Eat a well-balanced diet that includes whole grains, vegetables, and lean protein. Consult a specialist to get a meal plan or healthy eating tips.
- Exercise regularly. The American Heart Association suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, especially if you have a desk job that requires you to sit for a majority of the day. Not only can regular exercise help you lose weight, it can also improve heart health.
Weight Loss Specialists in Niagara Falls, NY
The specialists at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center can help you reach your weight loss goals and live a healthier lifestyle. Call (716) 278-4000 for more information on our weight loss services.
6 Weight Loss Tips Specifically for Women with PCOS
If you have ever tried to lose weight, you know how frustrating it can be when you fail. You do everything the experts recommend and still no luck. Trying to lose weight if you have PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome is 10 times more challenging.
Give the gift of better health on #GivingTuesday
#Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving – a day to step away from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and consider gifting to causes that make life better for us all.
Health and wellness are gifts never lose their luster and there is no better way to promote them than going online Nov. 27 to make a #GivingTuesday gift to the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Foundation.
“Every dollar of every gift we receive between now and #GivingTuesday will directly support the services we provide to our patients and to the wider community,” said Memorial Vice President and foundation director Judi Nolan Powell.
Making a #GivingTuesday gift to Memorial is as easy as visiting the medical center’s website at NFMMC.org and clicking on the green “Make a Gift” button at the top of the page. Additional information is available by calling the Memorial Medical Center Foundation at 278-4570.
#GivingTuesday is a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this year’s #GivingTuesday will take place on November 27th and will kick off the giving season by inspiring people to collaborate and give back.
“Memorial would never have grown to become a guiding light of regional health care without the generous support of our community,” Nolan Powell said. “We are grateful for every donation and we humbly ask you to consider us in your online holiday giving.”
Help us do a better job of meeting your healthcare needs
To help us better understand your healthcare needs we are joining the Niagara County Health Department and other area hospitals to compile your views using a confidential survey that is brief and easy to complete. Please click on the link below and tell us what you think!
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/niagaracounty
Paper copies of the survey will be available at the medical center and at our other sites. Thank you for your help!