Aside from avoiding tobacco and maintaining a healthy weight, following the American Cancer Society recommendations for cancer-screening is the most important thing people can do to reduce their chances of dying from cancer.
An annual gynecological examination is an important screening procedure for many types of cancer and includes a physical examination of the breasts. During this procedure, a physician physically examines the breasts to feel for any lumps or irregularities. The physician can also use this procedure as an opportunity to teach an individual how to perform a monthly breast self exam (BSE). Women are encouraged to perform a BSE every month, because with regular examination they have a greater chance of finding a lump early in its development.
If any lumps are found during an examination and screening, your doctor may need to do additional tests. Remember that only about 30 percent of biopsied breast lumps are cancerous. Even cancerous masses, when diagnosed early, respond very favorably to treatment. If surgery is required, often removal of the lump and a small amount of surrounding tissue is all that's necessary. Most women treated for early breast cancer do not experience a recurrence.
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Mammography:
The first step will probably be a diagnostic mammogram to assess the mass. If this raises any suspicion of breast cancer, your physician may recommend additional diagnostic tests. It is recommended that women over the age of 40 begin having a yearly mammogram.
A mammogram is an x-ray image of the breast that can reveal irregularities and help to detect cancer early when it is most treatable. The number of cancer cases per 1,000 mammography exams was 1.3 to 2 times higher among women with a family history of breast cancer than among those with no such history.
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Recommendations for Women
Age 40 and older should have a breast exam by a health professional and screening mammogram every year.
20-39 a clinical breast examination by a health professional every 3 years.
All women age 20 or older should perform a breast self-examination every month. By doing the exam regularly, you get to know how your breasts normally feel and you can more readily detect any signs or symptoms.
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer
- Gender (women)
- Aging
- Family history (first degree relative from mother or father's side of the family)
- Personal history of breast cancer
- Race (white women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer)
- Previous breast biopsy
- Previous breast irradiation (chest area radiation therapy as a child or young woman)
- Early age menstruating
- Late age (after 50) menopause
- Use of oral contraceptives
- Not having children
- Estrogen replacement therapy
- Alcohol use
- Smoking
- Any other cancers
- Obesity and high-fat diets
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