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Breast cancer cases on the rise

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By Chelsey Levingston, Staff Writer 2:25 AM Saturday, October 16, 2010

BUTLER COUNTY — The number of people diagnosed with breast cancer is on the rise, according to records of area hospitals.

The rise may not be due to more people acquiring cancer, but due to better detection methods, said Dr. Timothy Phalen, a radiologist for Mercy Hospital Fairfield.

Atrium Medical Center, Fort Hamilton Hospital and Mercy Hospital Fairfield combined saw an additional 20 cases of cancer in 2009 to total more than 260 cases.

Fort Hamilton was the only hospital to see a decline from 78 cancer cases found in 2008 to 69 found last year.

All the hospitals agree that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer they see. At Atrium Medical in Middletown, breast cancer accounts for more than 20 percent of its total cancer cases, according to Sherri O’Flynn, a spokeswoman.

“I think it went up because of the introduction of new technology, with digital mammograms being better,” Phalen said.

Mercy Fairfield implemented digital mammography last year. As opposed to film, digital testing can better detect masses in dense breasts, which are typical in younger women, Phalen said.

Breast cancer can present itself as a fixed mass, occasional discharge or asymmetry in the breasts. Most early detection of the cancer is caught through mammography, when the mass can be less than 1 centimeter in size, Phalen said.

The American Cancer Society is seeing an increase in breast cancers as well, according to O’Flynn. The society estimates that new cancer cases have increased every year since 2007 from more than 6,500 to more than 8,000 this year.

“This is a battle that’s going on, but I think regular screening and awareness of it from the woman and the woman’s physician are key factors in detection,” Phalen said.

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2551 or clevingston@coxohio.com.