Yearly Mammograms
Taking the time to schedule and undergo a yearly mammogram gives women
the greatest control of their breast health. Mammograms can detect small
tumors and cancers up to a year before they could be felt in a physical
examination. This early detection lets women receive the most successful
and least invasive treatment options. A recommended yearly screening for
women 40 years or older takes only minutes and could easily save your life.
Breast cancer also does not mean a woman will lose her breast - particularly
with early detection and treatment. With radically improved treatment
and diagnostic techniques, physicians are now able to find breast tumors
as small as 2 millimeters (or the size of a pin head). When cancer is
found at these early stages, surgical removal can be performed with less
loss of breast tissue.
Helpful Downloadable Flyers:
Breast Self-Examination
Conducting a breast self-examination gives women a role and responsibility
in the personal care of their health. The American Cancer Society recommends
monthly self-examinations for any woman over the age of 20, normally done
seven days following the beginning of the menstrual cycle. For post-menopausal
women, the exam should fall on the same day each month.
Classes are held at Breast Diagnostic Center and are conducted by Certified
Breast Care Nurses RN who specializes in all aspects of breast health.
Classes are FREE and reservations are required. Classes are held Every
Other Month at 5:00 PM- 6:00 PM.
Please call 310-784-6335, OPTION 3 for more information or to enroll in
an upcoming class.
Physician Breast Exam
While breast self-examinations are a terrific way for women to take charge
of their personal breast health, there are some inconsistencies more easily
detected by a trained physician or nurse practitioner. It is recommended
that all women between the ages of 20-29 have a clinical breast examination
every 1-3 years. For those women over the age of 40 or in a higher risk
group, a physician or nurse practitioner breast exam is recommended yearly.
Talk to your regular care provider about getting a breast exam, or call
the Torrance Memorial
Physician Referral Line at 310-517-4700 for referral to a physician in the community.