Improving breast cancer outcomes
for older women
Caribbean L 38 ife, OCTOBER 18-24, 2019
Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez
is commissioner of the New York City
Department for the Aging. Prior to
joining the de Blasio administration,
she served in executive leadership
roles with AARP, EmblemHealth and
other organizations. She also served
as New York’s first Latina Secretary
of State.
This October, which is Breast
Cancer Awareness Month, I want
to highlight the importance of early
detection and treatment –
especially for older women and
women of color who do not get
annual exams. Time and again,
studies show that race, age and
income often lead to health
disparities and poor outcomes. I know
because I am an 18-year breast cancer
survivor.
This simply won't do. All women
deserve quality care. I found out
that I had breast cancer during a
routine visit to my gynecologist. I
was overwhelmed and shocked by
the diagnosis, as were my friends
and family. Cancer is a disease that
impacts all of your loved ones and
their support is invaluable during
such a trying time. Thanks to my
treatment, which included six
chemotherapy and eight radiation
therapy sessions, I am one of the
lucky ones who beat cancer.
Still, not every woman is as
fortunate. As women age, they may
also believe that there is no need
for continued breast cancer
screenings, but nothing could be
further from the truth. Self-exams,
clinical breast exams,
mammograms and MRIs are
powerful tools to detect cancer
early. This spares many women
from the effects of prolonged
treatment and even death.
According to the National
Cancer Institute, nearly 13% of
U.S.-born women will receive a
breast cancer diagnosis from a
doctor at some point. The risk only
increases with age. In fact, 1 in 28
women starting at age 60 is likely
to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
That increases to 1 in 25 starting at
age 70.
Some people show no signs or
symptoms of having breast
cancer, but routine screenings
can help your doctor detect
breast cancer early, when it is
easier to treat. Most insurance
plans cover mammograms
without a copay, but if you don’t
have insurance, you can find
affordable health care through NYC
Care (https://www.nyccare.nyc/). To
find a low- or no-cost
mammogram screening site in
your area, call 311.
Heart health should be a concern for people of all
ages, but especially so for men and women over
50. That’s because, according to the American
Heart Association, even those who are free of cardiovascular
disease at age 50 are at a signifi cant lifetime
risk of developing the disease.
But heart disease does not have to be an accepted
byproduct of aging. For example, a 2014 study published
in the Association’s journal “Circulation”
found that maintaining or increasing physical activity
after age 65 can improve the heart’s well-being
and lower risk of heart attack.
In addition to increasing physical activity as they
age, older men and women who understand heart
disease and learn to recognize its symptoms have a
greater chance of minimizing its affects and lowering
their risk of having a heart attack:
What are the symptoms of heart
disease?
Heart disease is a blanket term used to describe a
host of conditions, so symptoms vary depending on
each individual condition. The following are some of
the more widely known conditions and their symptoms:
Hypertension: Also known as high blood pressure,
hypertension is a largely symptomless form of
heart disease. The Association notes that the idea
that hypertension produces symptoms such as diffi
culty sleeping, facial fl ushing, nervousness, and
sweating is a misconception. Symptoms typically do
not alert men and women to the presence of hypertension,
highlighting the emphasis you should place on
routine visits to the doctor’s offi ce, where your blood
pressure can be taken.
Heart attack: The symptoms of a heart attack
are different than the symptoms of heart disease that
may lead to heart attack. The former can be found by
visiting www.heart.org. Signs that you may be heading
toward a heart attack include undue fatigue, palpitations
(the sensation that your heart is skipping a
beat or beating too rapidly), dyspnea (diffi culty or labored
breathing), chest pain, or discomfort from increased
activity.
Arrhythmia: Arrhythmia means your heartbeat
is irregular, and men and women often mistakenly
believe arrhythmia only affl icts those who already
have been diagnosed with heart disease or have had
a heart attack. But arrhythmia can affect even those
men and women who have healthy hearts and no history
of cardiovascular disease. Symptoms of arrhythmia
can vary greatly, from a single premature beat to
a series of premature beats that occur in rapid succession.
Arrhythmia that lasts long enough to affect
heart function may include symptoms such as rapid
heartbeat, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness
of breath, and chest pain.
How can I protect my heart?
Heart-healthy habits take some effort, but men
and women can protect their hearts regardless of
their ages:
Get suffi cient exercise. At least 30 minutes of exercise
per day can protect against disease.
Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk for
a host of ailments, including heart disease. Quitting
is a great way to start getting your heart and other
parts of your body back on track.
Include heart-healthy foods in your diet. A diet
that is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in cholesterol,
salt, and saturated fat promotes heart health.
Don’t drink alcohol to excess. Like smoking,
drinking alcohol to excess can lead to a host of problems,
such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia, and
high cholesterol, each of which increases your risk of
heart disease.
Lose weight. Being overweight or obese is a major
risk factor for heart disease. If you have already
started to exercise daily and eat a more heart-healthy
diet, then you’re on your way to losing weight. Consult
your physician if diet and exercise don’t seem to
be helping you to shed pounds.
Wellness
What to do to keep your
heart running strong
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/www.heart.org
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/www.heart.org