Library of Frequently Asked Questions
Breast Self Exam
Many breast tumors are found by women themselves during a breast self-exam. Therefore, it is very important for you to become familiar with your own breasts. By examining your breasts every month, you will become familiar with what’s normal for you, and you will be able to recognize changes more easily.
Possible signs of breast cancer are lumps you can see or feel, dimpling or puckering of the breast skin, changes in the contour or shape of the breast, thickening, and any discharge from the nipple. Call your doctor immediately to report any of these signs that you may find during your breast self-exam. While most lumps and changes in the breast are not due to cancer, ignoring warning signs removes your best defense: early detection.
The American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society suggest that all women have a baseline mammogram between age thirty-five and thirty-nine, with a screening mammograms at one to two year intervals between age forty and forty-nine. After age fifty, the guidelines call for a mammogram once a year. Because women who have a sister or mother with breast cancer are considered high risk, it is recommended they have a mammogram every one to two years beginning at age thirty-five. Early detection is vital because the cure rate for breast cancer is high when found at an early stage.
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