October is breast cancer awareness month, an occasion intended to increase awareness of the impact of the disease that can be expected to develop in one out of eight women in America. Dr. Lucy Wallace, a breast surgeon with Baylor Scott & White says that despite individual variations, the incidence of breast cancer has been stable over the last two decades. 'With advances in early detection and treatments for breast cancer, survival rates have improved. Thus, there are more breast cancer survivors and women living with breast cancer in our communities."

It can’t be predicted whether a woman will be diagnosed with absolute certainty, but there are tools to assess the risk. She advises, "Many women assume that breast cancer is hereditary, but the majority of breast cancers are not inherited. There are risk factors other than family history. In fact, at Baylor Scott & White, we have found that up to 15 percent of our patients are high-risk, many of them unaware."

With the help of philanthropy, Baylor Scott & White launched the High-Risk Breast Screening Program in 2020 to help women better understand their personal risk. It’s very easy and free to participate. Just fill out a short questionnaire during an annual mammogram. "If you prove to be high-risk, a nurse navigator will work with you to determine the next best steps, including additional screenings, genetic counseling and a personalized monitoring plan, with the goal of identifying any breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage," says Wallace. "Since its launch, this program has already identified more than 5,100 women who are high risk for developing breast cancer who wouldn’t know otherwise. I’m also excited that the program is preparing to open its 14th location in North Texas later this fall to help even more women understand their risk."

The doctor shares, "I myself have been followed in a high-risk program for years, and I share my perspective with patients. Knowing you’re at increased risk can be empowering, because there’s something you can do about it. You can participate in a high-risk screening program and make lifestyle adjustments to reduce risk. I help patients focus on the positive aspects of knowing their risk instead of fear. I counsel women to maintain a normal weight and avoid daily alcohol. Both obesity and excessive alcohol intake have been shown to increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer."

About the evolution of breast cancer treatment over the years, she says, "I’m a breast cancer surgeon, but first and foremost, I’m a granddaughter and a daughter of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ve seen firsthand how much both the surgical and medical treatments have improved from one generation to the next. My mother’s mother had a disfiguring radical mastectomy at the age of 42, and so I understood the ravages of this disease at a very early age. When her cancer returned later in life, she received chemotherapy that was very difficult for her to tolerate. Because of research and advancements in oncology, my mother’s breast cancer journey was so much easier. She was able to have a lumpectomy, followed by a short course of radiation. She completed all of her treatments while still working full-time, and the medical treatments were easy for her to tolerate."

Every day, researchers are detecting cancer earlier and treating it more effectively. Wallace shares, "At Baylor Scott & White, we are constantly looking for ways to accelerate these efforts. We recently launched the Texas Immuno-Oncology Biorepository (TIOB), which aims to improve our understanding of cancer by collecting biological samples, including blood, urine and tissue, from patients battling breast cancer. One aim is to identify biomarkers, or things circulating in the body, that could diagnose breast cancer earlier before it’s apparent on a mammogram. Another aim is to understand the role the immune system plays in controlling cancer. Finally, we want to find novel therapies that one day render my work as a surgeon unnecessary."

For women to help drive awareness and cures for breast cancer, Wallace says. "First, get your mammogram and encourage your loved ones to do the same. So many women have put this off during the pandemic, but we know that early detection saves lives. It’s so important to identify breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stage. It’s easy to schedule your appointment online, and I hope women make this a priority for themselves and their families. Another meaningful way to get involved is by supporting efforts that help advance the fight against breast cancer such as our annual Celebrating Women Luncheon. Over the last 23 years, Celebrating Women has raised more than $37 million to improve breast cancer diagnosis, access to treatment and overall care for women in our community facing breast cancer. None of our current breast cancer treatments would exist if not for research and clinical trials, and philanthropy is crucial to these efforts."

For more information, visit bswhealth.com/physician/lucy-wallace.