Dr. Kathie-Ann Joseph, MD, MPH, is a breast cancer surgeon at New York University Langone Medical Center. Dr. Joseph is also the director of breast services for the Health and Hospitals Corporation, South Manhattan Network

Q: What makes some women more likely to get breast cancer than others?

A: Though it's hard to know why someone gets breast cancer, we do know that a person's genetics  play a major role. This means that women who have relatives who have had breast cancer are at a greater risk of getting breast cancer themselves. This is because this disease can be carried down from generation to generation through a person's genes. Family members share many genes. So if one family member has breast cancer, another is likely to have it as well.

We also know that women who exercise often, manage their weight, and do not smoke have less of a chance of developing breast cancer. This is also true for women who have had children and breastfed them. Women who breastfed their children have less of a chance of developing breast cancer. However, women that never have any children have a greater chance of developing breast cancer.

In this country, white women are more likely to get breast cancer, but they are also more likely to survive breast cancer. On the other hand, African American women are not as likely to get breast cancer, but when they do get it, they are less likely to survive it. African American women are less likely to survive from breast cancer because they have less access to care. New research also shows that African American women tend to get breast cancers that are more aggressive and harmful, which also makes them less likely to survive breast cancer.

Q: Who should get screened (tested) for breast cancer?

A: Women should be screened yearly, starting at the age of 40, by going to their doctor or healthcare provider and having a mammogram. However, if breast cancer runs in the family, women should start getting tested ten years before the earliest age of diagnosis. For example, if you have a family member who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 35, you should start getting screened at 25. The earlier your healthcare provider or doctor finds the breast cancer, the more likely you are to recover.

Q: How can someone in Northern Manhattan get screened (tested) to see if they have breast cancer?

A: One program is called Healthy Women's Partnership, that offers free breast screening, such as mammograms and physical examinations, to all uninsured women. If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, they will refer you to a health care provider and pay for your treatment. Many women have been treated that way.

Q: How can women in Northern Manhattan get educated about breast cancer?

A: For the past several years I have organized a conference with the Columbia University Department of Surgery that educates women, particularly African American women, about breast cancer. Each September we bring in different speakers and try to focus on issues that would be relevant to African American women, since they are the most likely to die from breast cancer. Anyone can attend this conference and we encourage women in the Northern Manhattan community to attend. The conference is free and open to the public but participants should register online or by mail.

To learn more about breast cancer and Dr. Joseph, visit her website: http://drkathiejoseph.com/

Harlem Word is a series of interviews with Harlem health experts, written by HHPC and approved by our Health Advisory Board.