Breast cancer risk factors with TidalHealth

SALISBURY, Md. – In this week’s edition of Health Beat, brought to you by TidalHealth, WMDT spoke with Charlese Smithson — a nurse practitioner for general surgery, specializing in breast care at TidalHealth.

Smithson chatted with WMDT about factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer, and important screenings that can help patients catch abnormal cell growth before it spreads. Mammograms are recommended for women starting at age 40. If abnormal, physicians will often send the results to a breast center where they can follow them closer or suggest other options like a breast biopsy.

“We see patients not only with cancer breast issues; we see non-cancer patients as well, whether they have abscesses, abnormal physical exams, whether they feel or palpate something,” Smithson elaborated.

When discussing risk factors for breast cancer, Smithson said there are two main categories: modifiable and non-modifiable risk. Non-modifiable risks can not be changes, and include factors like age and family history, while modifiable risks can be changes, and include factors such as physical activity and healthy eating.

“All those things that are good for your body, they’re also good for your breast as well,” Smithson said.

Patients with a high risk of breast cancer may use alternate screening tools, like the Tyrer-Cuzick Risk Assessment. The assessment assigns patients a risk value and gives them a score. The higher the score, the more intensive screening and care the patient will receive.

“The most important thing I think, that everybody should know about breast cancer, is early detection and screening,” Smithson concluded. “Mammograms really do save lives, being aware of your breast health.”

To learn more about the services offered at the TidalHealth Breast Center, click here.