You’ve heard it before – and it most definitely is true – when it comes to breast cancer one of the most important factors for predicting a prognosis is EARLY DETECTION

You’ve heard it before – and it most definitely is true – when it comes to breast cancer one of the most important factors for predicting a prognosis is EARLY DETECTION. When breast cancer is detected before any real symptoms occur it is much less likely that the cancer has spread beyond the breast and therefore much easier to treat. Don’t forget – men are also susceptible to the disease and should be aware of this, but it is 100 times more common in women.

For more information, go to: http://www.nbcam.org.

According to the American Cancer Society the following is recommended:

  • Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.
  • Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and EVERY year for women 40 and over.
  • Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for all women starting in their 20s.

What should you be looking for?

  • New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
  • Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
  • Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
  • Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
  • Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
  • Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
  • Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
  • Pain in any area of the breast.

Risk Factors You CANNOT Control:

No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer but some women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop cancer. But risk factors don't tell us everything. Having a risk factor, or even several, doesn't mean that a woman will get breast cancer. Some women who have one or more risk factors never get the disease. And some women who do get breast cancer don't have any risk factors.

  • Family history. A woman's risk of breast cancer is higher if her mother, sister, or daughter had breast cancer. The risk is higher if her family member got breast cancer before age 40. Having other relatives with breast cancer (in either her mother's or father's family) may also increase a woman's risk.
  • Race. Breast cancer is diagnosed more often in white women than Latina, Asian, or African-American women.
  • Age. The chance of getting breast cancer increases as a woman gets older - most cases of breast cancer occur in women over 60. Breast cancer is not common before menopause.
  • Personal history of breast cancer. A woman who has had breast cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting cancer in the other breast.
  • Certain breast changes. Some women have cells in the tissue that look abnormal under a microscope. Having certain types of abnormal cells increases the risk of breast cancer.
  • Menstrual periods. Women who began having periods early (before age 12) or who went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 55 have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. They have had more menstrual periods and as a result have been exposed to more of the hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Risk Factors You CAN Control:

  • Not breast-feeding. Some studies have shown that breast-feeding slightly lowers breast cancer risk, especially if the breast-feeding lasts 1½ to 2 years. This could be because breast-feeding lowers a woman's total number of menstrual periods, as does pregnancy.
  • Alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk of getting breast cancer. Women who have one drink a day have a very small increased risk. The American Cancer Society suggests limiting the amount you drink to one drink a day.
  • Being overweight or obese especially after menopause. Also, the risk seems to be higher if the extra fat is around the waist. But the link between weight and breast cancer risk is complex. The American Cancer Society recommends you stay at a healthy weight throughout your life and avoid gaining too much weight.
  • Lack of exercise. Studies show that exercise reduces breast cancer risk. The only question is how much exercise is needed. The American Cancer Society suggests that you exercise for 45 to 60 minutes 5 or more days a week.
  • Not having children or having them later in life. Women who have had not had children, or who had their first child after age 30, have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. Being pregnant many times and at an early age reduces breast cancer risk. Being pregnant lowers a woman's total number of lifetime menstrual cycles, which may be the reason for this effect.
  • Recent use of birth control pills. Studies have found that women who are using birth control pills have a slightly greater risk of breast cancer than women who have never used them. This risk seems to go back to normal over time once the pills are stopped. Women who stopped using the pill more than 10 years ago do not seem to have any increased risk.