Erika Hamilton: The Importance of Mammograms – Early Detection Saves Lives

Erika Hamilton shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Many of us can recall a time in our childhood when we were asked what we wanted to be when we grew up. When I was a kindergartner, I already knew the answer (annoying, right?). I wanted to be a doctor, and that passion has only deepened throughout my journey in breast cancer research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

As we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m sharing my thoughts on the importance of early detection, personalized treatments, and the life-saving role of clinical trials. Breast cancer care has come so far, but there’s still more work to be done to ensure every patient has access to the best bcsm care possible.

Read my latest article to learn more:

The Importance of Mammograms: Early Detection Saves Lives

“What do you want to be when you grow up?”

It’s a question we’ve all heard as children. For me, even as a kindergartner, the answer was always the same: a doctor. As I grew older, I set my sights on becoming a neurosurgeon—until a rotation at St. Jude’s opened my eyes to pediatric oncology. That experience drew me into conversations with patients and families where I could offer not only options but guidance and hope during incredibly difficult times. It was then that I found my true calling in oncology.

It is that guidance that is ever-changing in oncology. A gastroenterologist, who was one of my patients, participated in a clinical trial for a breast cancer treatment and is now disease-free. When the drug was approved, I called her to share the news. She was thrilled—not just because of her outcome, but because her participation helped bring a life-saving treatment to others. Clinical trials aren’t just for when all options are exhausted; they can be a first step in accessing cutting-edge care and driving future breakthroughs.

The Role of Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are at the heart of every major advancement in cancer care, and at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), we prioritize offering patients the opportunity to participate in trials early in the treatment journey—not just as a last resort.

However, barriers remain—particularly for underrepresented communities. The hidden costs of clinical trials, such as childcare, travel, and missed work, can be prohibitive.  At SCRI, we believe that trials should be easier to participate in and we are passionate about offering these trials in the community where patients live, work, and play.

Early Detection Saves Lives

Even with all our advances, one thing remains true: early detection saves lives. I recently saw a patient diagnosed with advanced breast cancer after missing four years of mammograms. Her outcome could have been very different had we caught the cancer earlier.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m reminding all women and men to talk to their doctors about getting screened for breast cancer. Mammograms are minimally invasive and a simple step to take to ensure that if you do have breast cancer, you can start treatment quickly to increase your chances of a good outcome.

Breast Cancer Screening

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, affecting 1 in 8 people, and everyone is at risk.  But certain groups are more likely to develop breast cancer, including:

• Women over age 50
• Those with certain genetic mutations
• Those who began menstruation before age 12 or started menopause after age 55
• Individuals with dense breasts and/or a family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Individuals who had radiation therapy before age 30

This is why I advocate for the new guidelines recommending mammograms starting at age 40, at the latest. This is especially important for certain populations such as Black women, who are often diagnosed at a younger age and with more aggressive forms of breast cancer. Screening is simple and can make all the difference. Some people may need to start mammograms even earlier based on their family history and should be discussed with their personal physician.

Advances in Treatment

Beyond screening, treatment is also evolving. A few years ago, we could only estimate the cancer’s potential based on relatively crude factors. Now, with genomic testing and risk recurrence scores, we can categorize patients with hormonally drive cancers into low, medium, or high-risk groups and personalize treatment accordingly. This approach allows us to spare many individuals from unnecessary chemotherapy while still ensuring the best possible outcomes, reducing over-treatment and improving overall care.

A particularly exciting development is the rise of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), which target chemotherapy directly to the tumor, minimizing damage to healthy cells. We have 3 such agents approved in metastatic breast cancer, 1 in early breast cancer and are working towards bringing others to the early setting through clinical trials. Targeted therapies like CDK4/6 inhibitors, immunotherapy, and PARP inhibitors are also transforming breast cancer treatment, offering more personalized and effective options with fewer side effects.

When breast cancer is caught early, it’s most often curable. And with the incredible advances we’re making, we’re getting closer to a future where all breast cancers are curable. I’d like to believe that this is the kind of doctor my five-year-old self aspired to be – the one who provides answers, offers hope, and gives people the support they need to thrive.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, I urge you to take action. Share the importance of screening, get screened, learn about your treatment options, and if you’re a patient, ask your doctor about clinical trials. Education, early detection, personalized care, and clinical trial participation are key to saving lives. Together, we can ensure that every patient has the best possible chance at a healthy future.”

Erika Hamilton is a medical oncologist and the Director of Breast Cancer Program at Sarah Cannon Research Institute (USA). Dr. Hamilton is a past chair of ASCO’s Scientific Breast Committee ’21-’22, participant of the ASCO Leadership Development Program, Associate Editor for Clinical Breast Cancer, co-chair for Great Debates and Updates in Women’s Oncology Conference and a board member of the Susan G. Komen Foundation of Central Tennessee. She is active in the community, volunteering with Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, Ovarcome ovarian cancer support organization, Brentwood Baptist Church and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.