October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and people living in Indiana, Pittsburgh, Kittanning, and New Kensington show support for breast cancer patients and survivors. During breast cancer awareness month, awareness promotes education, screening of breast cancer, and early detection. Pennsylvania has prescription assistance programs for older adults that offer low-cost prescription medication to seniors aged 65 years and above. Below is a guide on how often loved ones should get breast exams as they age.
Loved Ones Aged Between 60 to 74 Years With an Average Risk of Getting Breast Cancer
Senior citizens in New Kensington and Pittsburgh are advised to have a breast exam at least once every two years.
Senior Adults Aged 75 Years or Older With an Average Risk of Getting Breast Cancer
The loved ones living in Pittsburgh and Indiana should discuss their personal circumstances with a health practitioner, who is in a position to establish if they need a breast exam at their age.
Seniors Living With Alzheimer's Disease
Breast cancer exams should not be conducted on loved ones with extreme Alzheimer's. The reason is that the loved ones living with Alzheimer's may not be patient enough or comfortable to undergo the exam. Caregivers in Indiana and Kittanning should also help decide whether to screen their loved ones for breast cancer.
5 Factors Associated With Increased Risk of Breast Cancer
1. Getting Older Requires More Frequent Breast Exams
The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Further, loved ones in New Kensington and Indiana are more vulnerable to breast cancer. Averagely, men with breast cancer are said to be approximately 72 years old when diagnosed with breast cancer.
2. Dense Breasts
Dense breasts can be defined as a condition whereby there is more connective tissue in breasts than fatty tissue. The connective tissue makes it hard to see tumors in the breast. Dense breasts are a condition that affects most of the senior adults aged between 65 years old and 74 years old living in Kittanning and Pittsburgh.
3. Having Obesity After Menopause
Seniors who become obese in Pittsburgh and New Kensington have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. Loved ones often tend to become obese due to decreased physical activity.
4. Family History of Breast or Ovarian Cancer Requires More Breast Exams
Seniors living in New Kensington and Indiana with close relatives with a history of breast or ovarian cancer are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
5. Previous Treatment Using Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapies around the chest area increase the risk of getting breast cancer. Seniors living in Indiana and Pittsburgh with a history of radiation therapy around their chest, indeed, require regular breast exams.
Learn More About Getting Breast Exams as You Age
Do you have a loved one living in Indiana, New Kensington, Pittsburgh, or Kittanning? Senior Helpers are here to offer a full range of home care services for your loved one. Call us today for more information about our services.