Learning about Breast Cancer
- Australia pop star Kylie Minogue, 54, is a thriving breast cancer survivor. She was recently spotted in a stunning black gown for Paris Fashion Week.
- Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 when she was just 36 years old. After a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation, she was declared cancer-free in 2006. Sharing her cancer journey led to an increase in breast cancer screenings dubbed the “Kylie effect.”
- Screening for breast cancer is typically done via mammogram. The American Cancer Society (ACS) says women should begin yearly mammogram screening for breast cancer at age 45 if they are at average risk for breast cancer. The ACS also says those aged 40-44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year, and women age 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms.
- If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier. Risk factors for breast cancer include: being a woman, age, family history of breast cancer or a genetic mutation such as BRCA, having had a prior biopsy on an abnormal area, radiation exposure, lifetime estrogen exposure, not having a child before age 30 or never having children, obesity, drinking alcohol and lack of exercise.
- Signs and symptoms of breast cancer can include a breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue; a change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast; changes to the skin over the breast such as dimpling; developing a newly inverted nipple; peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin; and redness or pitting of the skin over your breast like the skin of an orange.
Minogue has never been one to shy away from serving show-stopping looks. From metallic thigh-high boots, to bedazzled dresses, to the slinky jumpsuit she rocked for the "Can't Get You Out of My Head" music video, Minogue’s successful career has long been accented by iconic outfits along the way.
Read MoreKylie Minogue’s Latest Look
While attending a show in Paris for Fashion Week, Kylie Minogue shared snaps of her in a long, black Mugler dress that perfectly draped her figure.View this post on Instagram
“O🖤M🖤G … Congratulations @cadwallader @muglerofficial,” Minogue wrote under photos of her alongside Mugler Creative Director Casey Cadwallader.
The ensemble was complete with a structured corset that accentuated her waist, a daring slit up the back of the dress, metallic earrings and a beautiful TASAKI ring from the brand’s Comet Plus Diamond collection.
Needless to say, the Australian singer is thriving. And a battle with breast cancer in her 30s has not held her back one bit.
Kylie Minogue Faces Breast Cancer
Kylie Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in on May 17, 2005. But, sadly, her cancer was originally misdiagnosed.
"Because someone is in a white coat and using big medical instruments doesn't necessarily mean they're right," she said during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
I Wanted My Doctor To Like Me, Then He Missed My Breast Cancer
Being just 36 years old at the time of her correct diagnosis, Minogue’s world was turned upside down.
“It’s like the earth had kind of slipped off its axis,” Minogue said in 2020 of her diagnosis. “You see everything differently.”
The diagnosis came right before she was set to perform at the famous Glastonbury Festival that year, so she had to put her career on hold. Instead of headlining the iconic event, she watched it on TV from Australia with her mom, Carol, and dad, Ron.
"My memory's so strong of so much around that time and while my focus had moved on from Glastonbury, I was watching and going, ‘I'm meant to be there,’" she said. "It would have been pretty mega at the time to headline the next woman to do it was Beyonce."
Minogue underwent a lumpectomy, an eight-month cycle of chemotherapy and radiation for treatment. Thankfully, she was declared cancer-free in February 2006, though she still needed to take medication for five years.
In sharing her battle publicly, Minogue created something positive from such a trying time. In fact, her advocacy for breast cancer prevention and screening even resulted in a phenomenon dubbed the "Kylie effect" where we saw an increase in mammograms.
"I have people tell me to my face, 'Well I went to get checked and I'm now five years cancer free," Minogue said. "Everyone's story is different, but it's a good feeling to know that you've raised awareness and helped people."
Learning about Mammograms
Screening for breast cancer is typically done via mammogram, which looks for lumps in the breast tissue and signs of cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS) says women should begin yearly mammogram screening for breast cancer at age 45 if they are at average risk for breast cancer. The ACS also says those aged 40-44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year, and women age 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms.
When You're Getting a Mammogram, Ask About Dense Breasts
For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she doesn't have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer such as a BRCA gene mutation or a medical history including chest radiation therapy before the age of 30. Beyond genetics, family history and experience with radiation therapy, experiencing menstruation at an early age (before 12) or having dense breasts can also put you into a high-risk category. If you are at a higher risk for developing breast cancer, you should begin screening earlier.
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Connie Lehman, chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, said people who hadn't reached menopause yet should prioritize getting a mammogram every year.
When Should I Get a Mammogram?
"We know that cancers grow more rapidly in our younger patients, and having that annual mammogram can be lifesaving," Dr. Lehman said. "After menopause, it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years. But what I'm most concerned about is the women who haven't been in for a mammogram for two, three or four years, those women that have never had a mammogram. We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives."
It's also important to be on top of self breast exams. If you ever feel a lump in your breast, you should be vigilant and speak with your doctor right away. Voicing your concerns as soon as you have them can lead to earlier cancer detection which, in turn, can lead to better outcomes.
Understanding Your Breast Cancer Risk
The risk of developing breast cancer varies greatly from person to person, so it's important to discuss your specific risk level with your doctor. That being said, there are some important risk factors to keep in mind.
Major Reduction in Cancer Risk by Following Old Standbys Diet and Exercise
In a previous interview with SurvivorNet, Dr. Elizabeth Comen, a medical oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, laid out several risk factors for breast cancer including:
- Being a woman: Women are at a higher risk for breast cancer, though men can get the disease too.
- Age: "Breast cancer becomes increasingly more common as women age," Dr. Comen said.
- Family history: "Some people think that breast cancer is only inherited through genes on the mom's side,' Dr. Comen said. "But it can also be related to genetic mutations that could be found on the father's side."
- Having had a prior biopsy on an abnormal area: "There are different markers, that if a woman has had a biopsy, it's important that she talk to her doctor about whether those markers are lending themselves to an increased risk of breast cancer," Dr. Comen said. If you've had a biopsy that indicated atypical hyperplasia, for example, you are at an increased risk of breast cancer. Atypical hyperplasia isn't cancer, but it is a precancerous condition that describes an accumulation of abnormal cells in the milk ducts and lobules of the breast.
- Radiation exposure: Cancer survivors who've had radiation to their chest are at an increased risk of breast cancer.
- Lifetime estrogen exposure: "About 2/3 of breast cancer are driven by the hormone estrogen," Dr. Comen said. "So, that means if a woman has had her period at an early age and started to go through puberty at an early age, at seven, eight, nine, and potentially a later age of menopause, means that her lifetime of having had menstrual periods and being exposed to higher levels of estrogen is higher, and therefore her risk of breast cancer is slightly higher."
- Not having a child before age 30 or never having children
- Obesity
- Drinking alcohol
- Lack of exercise: "While there's more research to be done in this area, it looks like if a woman is not exercising, she may also increase her risk for breast cancer," Dr. Comen said.
Alcohol Can Increase the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer
Know the Signs of Breast Cancer
It's always important to stay on top of any changes to your health and address them promptly. Signs and symptoms of breast cancer can include the following:
- A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
- Change in the size, shape or appearance of a breast
- Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
- A newly inverted nipple
- Peeling, scaling, crusting or flaking of the pigmented area of skin surrounding the nipple (areola) or breast skin
- Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange
It's important to keep an eye out for these symptoms while remembering that having one or many of them does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. Regardless, you should always speak with a doctor right away if anything ever feels off or you're experiencing one or more of the signs listed above. You never know when speaking up about your health can lead to a very important diagnosis.
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