Breast Health

Guidelines for Maintaining Breast Health

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women. One in eight 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

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. Here are 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:

Yearly mammogram beginning at age 40
If you are in a high-risk category, your doctor may suggest you have more frequent mammograms.

Examination by a Physician (Clinical Breast Exam)

This should be performed at least once every three years between ages 20 and 39
This should be performed once a year after age 40
Your doctor may recommend more frequent examinations, if you are in a high-risk group.

Breast Self-Examination (BSE)

Breast self-examination is an option for finding changes. Starting at age 20, women should report any breast changes to their doctor immediately. It is essential they do a BSE:

7 days after the start of your menstrual period
If you are post-menopausal, the same time each month

If you would like a longer class with hands-on BSE training, call the Breast Diagnostic Center at (310) 784-6335. The Breast Health Education nurse 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