Managing breast cancer screening and treatment can be worrisome in the best of times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be even more uncertain. Elisa Port, MD, Director of the Dubin Breast Center of The Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai, answers some of your questions.
I’m due for my annual mammogram but I’m scared of getting COVID-19. Should I delay until there’s a vaccine?
At the height of the pandemic in New York City, we were not recommending women come in for screenings. We asked women seeking elective care and routine follow-up appointments to wait. But the number of cases in New York has dropped dramatically, and we have instituted stringent protocols making our hospitals and medical facilities extremely safe. We hope everyone will get back on track with routine screening tests, including mammograms.
I feel a lump in my breast. Should I get it checked out or wait and hope it goes away?
Any woman who thinks she might have a lump in her breast should get it checked out. While many lumps are benign, women of all ages and backgrounds can get breast cancer. It’s important not to dismiss your concern and assume a lump will go away. I recommend that you make an appointment with your primary care physician to receive a full evaluation. Your doctor might perform a physical exam and order imaging tests such as mammograms or ultrasounds or even a biopsy.
I successfully completed my breast cancer treatment. Am I immunocompromised and at increased risk of developing COVID-19?
A history of breast cancer does not increase your risk of contracting COVID-19 and neither does receiving cancer treatment—including hormonal therapies and other medications. However, women who are actively receiving chemotherapy and who are immunocompromised, may be at higher risk. The signs of COVID-19 are generally the same for breast cancer patient as they for anyone else. At Mount Sinai, we screen everyone coming into our facilities for issues such as fever, cough, and travel from an area with a high positivity rate (“red zone”).
I’m feeling stressed because of the pandemic. Do you have any suggestions on how to cope?
Stress management is very personal. Coping mechanisms, too, are very personal. The most important thing is to make sure that you don’t spiral into negative behaviors, such as overeating or drinking too much. Try to find healthy outlets for your stress. That can include physical activities like walking your dog or exercising; social activities such as spending time with friends and family; or doing things that bring you joy, like reading, listening to music, or playing a musical instrument. For more on how to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic, read this article on resiliency featuring Rachel Yehuda, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
Do you have any other thoughts about breast health?
Remember that breast cancer is an extremely treatable and curable cancer—and early detection and diagnosis are key to successful treatment. The best way to find a cancer early is by getting regular screenings. Starting treatment when a cancer is in the early stages is most effective as it can also mean using less aggressive treatment.