Guidelines for Maintaining Breast Health
Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women. One in nine women will develop the disease over her life span. No definite cause of breast cancer has been determined, but certain risk factors seem to place a woman at higher risk. Having several of these risk factors does not mean that you will automatically develop this disease. These risk factors only account for 15 - 20% of women who develop breast cancer.
These include:
- Increasing age
- A personal history of breast cancer
- A family history of breast cancer
- Never having a baby
- Having a first baby after age 30
- Onset of menstruation before age 12
- Onset of menopause after age 50
- Obesity with a high fat, high calorie diet
- Alcohol consumption, especially at a young age
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Studies have shown that the earlier a breast cancer is found, the higher the cure rate. It is also important to remember that a diagnosis of breast cancer does not mean that a woman will lose her breast. Early diagnosis and new methods of treatment enable many women to keep their breasts. The key is early diagnosis.
The recommendations of the American Cancer Society for the early detection of breast cancer are:
Mammography
A mammogram is a low dose X-ray of the breast. A mammogram can detect a cancer up to a year before it can be felt. Some women have expressed a concern that the radiation form mammograms themselves may cause cancer. Some comparisons may help to relieve this fear:
- The risk of getting breast cancer form a mammogram is about the same as getting lung cancer form smoking one cigarette.
- The radiation from a mammogram is about the same as watching TV for a couple of hours.
Recommendations for mammography are:
- 1 baseline mammogram by age 40
- 1 mammogram every 1 - 2 years between ages 40 - 49
- yearly mammogram after age 50
- if you are in a high-risk category, your doctor may suggest you have more frequent mammograms.
Breast Self-Examination (BSE)
Once a month after age 20
- 7 days after the start of your menstrual period
- if you are post-menopausal, the same time each month
Examination by a Physician
- once every three years between ages 20 - 29
- once a year after age forty
- you doctor may recommend more frequent examinations if you are in a high risk group
If you would like a longer class with hands on BSE training, call the Breast Diagnostic Center at (310) 517-4709. The nurse there will meet with you on a one-to one basis to help you learn how to examine your breasts. This service is PRIVATE and FREE.
References:
The American Cancer Society
Henderson, I. (1990) What Can A Woman Do About Her Risk of Dying of Breast Cancer? Current Problems is Cancer PP 165 - 221.
Dollinger, M.; Rosenbaum, E & Benz, C. (1991) in Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy (edited by Dollinger, M.; Rosenbaum, E.; & Cable, G.) Sommerville House Books Limited: Toronto, Ontario, Canada PP 241 - 264.