By: Julie Crichton, MD

Finally, the sweltering summer heat is slowly simmering behind us as we look forward to embracing cooler days. October brings a chance to get outside, an opportunity to enjoy fall break with our families and to savor the early fall colors.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a time to encourage the women in your life to get screened. As I write this, I’m thinking of the last patient I saw today, as we discussed her positive breast cancer biopsy and the journey she was about to embark on. It was particularly painful as it came on the heels of her recent hospitalization for a life-threatening illness, unexpected and unrelated. She is a daughter, a sister, a wife and a working mother who thankfully got screened and it was detected early, and she has every reason to be hopeful.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in women. It’s astounding that one in eight women in the U.S. will get breast cancer in her lifetime. That means you most likely have a family member, friend, colleague or patient with breast cancer. My patients are often surprised when they learn that only 5-10% of breast cancer is hereditary, but of the women who get breast cancer about 15-20% have a family history.

While family history is important, there are many other contributing risk factors that we can’t change: getting older, genetic mutations, early menarche, late menopause, dense breasts, history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast disease, previous radiation therapy and exposure to DES. Risk factors you can change: not being physically active, being overweight or having obesity after menopause, some hormone therapy, having first pregnancy after age 30, not breastfeeding and drinking alcohol.

It is curious that in recent years the incidence of new breast cancers has increased 0.6%. However, breast cancer death rates have been decreasing steadily since 1989 which is believed to be due to early detection and better treatments.  As it turns out, early detection is the most important factor in breast cancer survival.

As with other diseases, there are differences by race and ethnicity. The median age of diagnosis is slightly younger for Black women compared to non-Hispanic white women. Non-Hispanic white women have the highest rates of breast cancer, but Black women have the highest death rate from breast cancer (41%). It is postulated to be partially due to a higher incidence of triple-negative breast cancer than any other racial group. Native Americans and Native Alaskans are 8% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, whereas Asian women have the lowest rate of death.

Interestingly, female healthcare professionals, including physicians, seem to have a higher rate of breast cancer than the general population according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine depending on age, job tenure, specialty and occupational exposure. Stanford University conducted a study in May 2022 confirming previous studies that breast cancer rates were higher in female orthopedic surgeons than the general population. Certain specialties, particularly those exposed to radiation or contrast material seem to have the highest risk. So, making lifestyle changes, work safety precautions and early screening is critical for the wellness of our physicians.

Here’s what else is happening in October:

• Start by getting outside at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Steele Indian School Park with many of our breast surgeons for the Check for a Lump 8th Annual PINK OUT 5K AZ Fun Run for Breast Cancer. This is a great way to connect with and support the women in our community. Learn more.
• Monday, Oct. 14 is National Indigenous Peoples Day that honors Indigenous American peoples and commemorates their histories and cultures. Susan La Flesche Picotte was the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree in the U.S. and graduated valedictorian from the Women’s Medical college of Pennsylvania in 1889. Lillie Rosa Minoka-Hill was the second American Indian woman to earn her MD at the same college in 1999.
• Thursday, Oct. 17 is Indigenous Pink Day. Consider supporting this wonderful cause.
• Reminder: From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, the HonorHealth Breast Symposium will take place at the Hilton North Scottsdale at Cavasson for physicians, providers, nurses and pharmacists. Register now.

Save the date: Please join us from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at our annual WPLC Fall Reception where we will announce our Trailblazer Award.

We also welcome women physicians who will be joining our HonorHealth family from Steward Health Care facilities in Arizona. We look forward to collaborating with you.