For 2024, healthcare experts ranked breast cancer at the top of the cancer charts. According to their estimates, breast cancer comes to 1 out of every 7 diagnoses of cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women of any age, but the risk of developing it increases with age, the current average being 62 years. For women aged 70 years and above, the risk of getting breast cancer stands at 1 in 24.
What causes breast cancer in older women
The primary reason for getting breast cancer is having breasts, i.e. being female. Factors that intensify the risk are:
- Being overweight or obese
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Smoking or using other forms of tobacco
- Family history of breast cancer. If a first-relation female such as your mother or sister had it, your risk rises
- Inheriting damaged or mutated copies of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene from either parent
- Being younger than 11 years when you got your first period
- Having your first child at the age of 35 or older
Do You Know?
Men can get breast cancer, too. Both male and female babies are born with basic breast tissue, but in boys the tissue does not develop further as it does for girls. Breast cancer can occur in men between 60 and 70 years of age, but the rate is very low, around 1 in 726 men.
What are BRCA1 and BRCA2?
BReast CAncer 1 and 2 are a set of genes we all — men and women — receive from our parents. The purpose of these genes is to stop tumors from forming. But if the genetic copies we get are damaged or mutated in any way, the genes don’t function properly and the risk of developing cancer rises.
Early signs of breast cancer in seniors
The signs and symptoms of breast cancer are the same regardless of age. However, a lot of women don’t experience any obvious symptoms, so it is possible that cancer may remain undetected until it is fairly advanced.
The most common signs and symptoms of breast cancer are:
- Areas around the breast and underarm feel thick and hard, but are usually painless.
- A hard lump under the skin or deeper in the breast tissue. It will feel less like a smooth marble and more like an irregularly shaped rock.
- Changes in skin color on and around the breast and underarm (reddening, darkening).
- Changes in skin texture of the breast and underarm (pitting or dimpling like orange peel).
- Changes in the color, texture, and shape of the nipple and areola.
- Discharge from the nipple of the affected breast.
- A change in size and shape of the breast.
Screening for breast cancer
The first step in diagnosing breast cancer is to identify the presence of a lump, or tumor. This can be done with a physical examination, mammogram, ultrasound, MRI, or biopsy.
Keep a photo record to track changes
A very useful tool for self-exams is the camera in your smartphone. Take photos of your breasts from the sides, front, underneath, and underarms every time you do a self-exam. This way, if something seems odd, you don’t have to rely on your memory; you can compare pictures to see if anything looks different from before.
Mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs all give a picture of what is going on inside the breast tissue. This makes it easier to pinpoint the location, shape, and size of the tumor.
A biopsy involves taking a sample of tissue and analyzing it for the presence of cancerous cells. The biopsy can tell whether the tumor is benign (harmless) or malignant (cancerous).
How can I prevent breast cancer from happening to me?
There is no absolute way to prevent breast cancer from happening, but experts suggest that making certain lifestyle changes can lower your risk.
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Keep weight under control
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), excessive weight gain in postmenopausal women raises their risk of getting breast cancer considerably.
Exercise for a minimum of 30 minutes a day, for a total of 150 minutes per 5-day week. Eat a nutritious, well-balanced diet, and keep your Body Mass Index (BMI) below 25.
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Stop smoking
Cigarettes and other tobacco products are known to contain more than 7,000 chemicals. Many of these chemicals are toxic, and nearly 70 chemicals that make up cigarettes are carcinogenic, or cancer-causing.
Women who have smoked for at least 10 years have a 10% higher chance of getting breast cancer.
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Avoid alcohol
Way back in 1988, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified alcohol as a Class 1 carcinogen and, like cigarettes, a highly modifiable risk factor. This means it is a cancer-causing factor that you can control to some extent.
Women who have three drinks a week (12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor) have a 15% higher risk of getting breast cancer than non-drinkers. Every additional drink raises the risk by another 10%.
If breast cancer is so widespread, will my insurance cover screening and treatment?
As breast cancer is the most common cancer in elderly females, women aged 40 years and over get a free screening mammogram once every 12 months under Medicare Part B.
For senior adult women having a Medicare Advantage plan, the annual screening mammogram is free as long as their doctor accepts assignment.
If any concerning thing shows up on a screening mammogram, you may have to get a diagnostic mammogram, which is a more detailed X-ray of the breast. For diagnostic mammograms and ultrasounds, patients may be required to contribute toward copay or coinsurance.
The earlier, the better
Untreated breast cancer in the elderly can quickly spread cancerous cells from the breast tissue to other parts of the body. If you haven’t already, start your preventative healthcare regime now to lower your risks of breast cancer. Your doctor can help you draw up a wellness plan of diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes.
For more information on helpful resources that may be available through Original Medicare or Medicare Advantage, speak to our Patient Relations Team by calling 800-941-1106.