UofL doctors stress importance of annual breast exams following Kentucky Lt. Gov. Coleman's double mastectomy

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Doctors at UofL Health on Tuesday stressed the importance of annual breast exams after Kentucky's lieutenant governor had a preventative medical procedure.

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman announced Monday she had undergone a successful double mastectomy after medical concerns were raised during a routine physical exam. A mastectomy involves the removal of the entire breast.

Coleman said she made the decision to have the procedure because of a "significant family history of cancer," and encouraged others to schedule preventative exams.

Doctors at UofL Health said Tuesday that surgeries like Coleman's can be done as a preventative measure but are typically reserved for those who are at a higher risk for breast cancer. That includes those with a certain genetic mutation or those with a significant family history of the cancer.

"If that's something that women are interested in, I absolutely recommend reaching out to see a specialist like myself to have that conversation," said Dr. Brian Dong, with the Brown Cancer Center. "But, as you can imagine, that's not a short conversation. And, certainly, a lot of factors play into it."

Doctors said it's important for women to have a yearly mammogram starting at age 40 as there may not be signs or symptoms of early breast cancer.

UofL Health said one in six breast cancer cases occur in women ages 40-49.

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