A local doctor says Elizabeth Edwards' candor about her breast cancer is helping women everywhere. Strong Hospital's Dr. Kristin Skinner says more women are talking about the disease and most importantly getting a diagnosis earlier than ever before.
Strong Hospital handles about 300 cases of breast cancer each year. It's a pretty important disease in our area. Monroe County and the surrounding area has among the highest occurrence of breast cancer in the state.
Dr.Skinner says Edwards' ductal cancer is the most common form of breast cancer. It accounts for about 85 percent of cases. Skinner adds Edwards' cancer was likely a little more advanced or aggressive because she discovered it during a routine self-exam. She says when a lump is large enough to feel it is usually more advanced than cancers found through mammography. Skinner says breast cancer is not an aggressive cancer and is highly treatable.
“There are some forms of cancer which are a death sentence and we say okay you're going to be dead in six months, regardless of what we do. Breast cancer is not like that. Most women don't develop breast cancer spread to other parts of the body, metastatic disease, and the ones that do can often be treated as though this is a chronic illness,” said Skinner.
Skinner says most women with breast cancer are diagnosed early. Despite recent controversy about mammograms she recommends them for women over 40, as well as a monthly self-exam.
