October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month & Here Is What I Actually Want You to Know
I want to talk to you about something this month that I think about more than most people probably realize.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
and every year I watch the pink ribbons go up and the social media posts roll through, and I appreciate all of it. Awareness matters. But what I really want for you is more than awareness.
I want you to actually know what to do, when to do it, and where to go when you have a question or something feels off.
So let's talk about it …
When should you get a mammogram?
A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of the breast, and it is genuinely the best tool we have for finding breast cancer before you can feel it. Early detection changes outcomes. That is not a marketing line. It is just true.
Here is where things get a little confusing, because different medical organizations give slightly different guidance on when to start. I want to cut through that for you.
If you are at average risk, here is the short version. The conversation about starting mammograms should happen at age 40. Some guidelines say to start screening annually at 40, others suggest you discuss your personal risk with your provider first and decide together. What I do not want is for that disagreement between guidelines to become a reason you do nothing. If you are in your 40s and you have not had this conversation yet, let's have it.
From 50 to 74 the evidence is very consistent. Get regular mammograms, either every year or every two years.
Over 75 the decision becomes more individual and depends on your overall health and what matters most to you. That is genuinely a conversation worth having with someone who knows you.
If you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene change, or if you had chest radiation between ages 10 and 30, you likely need to start screening earlier and may need additional imaging like a breast MRI. Please do not wait for someone to bring this up. Ask about it specifically.
One more thing worth knowing. If you have been told you have dense breast tissue, which many women do, mammograms can be harder to read and dense tissue slightly raises your risk. Ask your provider whether additional imaging makes sense for you.
You can actually schedule your own mammogram here in Central Oregon
This is one of my favorite things to tell patients because most people do not know it. You do not need a referral from a doctor to schedule a mammogram in Central Oregon. You can self-schedule directly through Central Oregon Radiology Associates right now.
Schedule here: https://www.royalsolutionsgroup.com/app/forms/ExamOrderForm.aspx?uID=eCOI1pRROYALk2620sDRbYwh2Q==
If you have a personal or family history of breast cancer and want more guidance, St. Charles has a High Risk Breast Clinic specifically for that:
https://stcharleshealthcare.org/services/cancer-care/prevention-and-early-detection/high-risk-breast-clinic
Know your body
You do not need a rigid self-exam routine. What you do need is to be familiar enough with your own body that you notice when something changes. Most breast changes are not cancer. But all of them deserve to be checked.
Come see me or your provider if you notice any of these:
A new lump or thickening in your breast or underarm. A change in the size or shape of a breast. Nipple changes, including turning inward when that is new, any discharge especially if it is bloody, or scaling or crusting around the nipple. Skin changes like dimpling, puckering, redness, or texture that looks like orange peel. Persistent pain in one specific area.
Please do not wait on any of these. I know life is busy and it is easy to talk yourself out of going in. But if something feels off, come in. That is exactly what I am here for.
Men, this is important for you as well
Breast cancer in men is uncommon but it happens, and men are diagnosed later more often than women because they do not realize it is something that can affect them.
Men should see a provider about a new painless lump near or under the nipple, nipple changes including pulling inward or any discharge, skin changes, or a lump in the armpit. If you have a strong family history of breast, ovarian, prostate, or pancreatic cancer, or a known BRCA gene change, that is worth a specific conversation about your risk.
This applies to the men in your life too.
Share this with them.
A few things you can do for your own risk
Some risk factors are not in your control. Age, genetics, and family history are what they are. But research consistently shows that staying physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and not smoking all matter. More than a third of breast cancers in higher-income countries are estimated to be preventable through lifestyle changes. That is worth paying attention to.
I want to leave you with this…
If your mammogram is overdue, schedule it this month. Use the self-scheduling link above. If you have a family history that concerns you, call St. Charles High Risk Breast Clinic or come talk to me about it. If you have noticed something that does not feel right, please do not sit on it.
You matter too much to wait.
Overview: Amber Loredo, FNP-C at Alpine Wellness in Bend, Oregon, breaks down breast cancer screening, warning signs, and local resources, because this conversation is too important to wait.
Don’t stop here, check out some of the other posts on
The Journal
Welcome, I am so glad you are here!
I’m Amber Loredo, a FNP-C - Family Nurse Practitioner and the founder of Alpine Wellness, a Direct Primary Care clinic in Bend, Oregon. With over 15 years in medicine, I have built Alpine Wellness around one idea, that patients deserve a provider who actually knows them. I specializes in preventive care, hormone health, and metabolic wellness, and I am known by my patients for translating complex medical information into plain English. My clinic, Alpine Wellness serves patients throughout Central Oregon including Bend, Redmond, and Sisters. If you're curious about Direct Primary Care, you can book a free discovery call at alpine-wellness.net.
I want to talk to you about something this month that I think about more than most people probably realize.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and every year I watch the pink ribbons go up and the social media posts roll through, and I appreciate all of it. Awareness matters. But what I really want for you is more than awareness, I want you to actually know what to do, when to do it, and where to go when you have a question or something feels off.So let's talk about it