MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. – With 216,000 people diagnosed this year, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, according to the American Cancer Society. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer, with an estimated 40,000 deaths so far in 2004.
Risk factors associated with breast cancer include being a female; a personal history of breast cancer; previous biopsies for benign breast disease; having a mother, sister or daughter who has had breast cancer; excess exposure to radiation; and age. According to the ACS, approximately eight out of 10 breast cancer cases are in women over age 50.
Additional risk factors include alcohol intake beyond one drink a day; starting menstruation before age 12; menopause after age 50; no pregnancies or first childbirth after age 30; and lengthy use of hormones after menopause.
The best protection is early detection.
Breast cancer is most curable when it is caught in the earliest stages. Early diagnosis of breast cancer greatly improves the likelihood that treatment will be successful.
Screening examinations for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year. The goal is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. Research has shown that monthly breast self-exams and self-awareness are the best way to detect potentially cancerous lumps and other breast changes.
Beginning in their 20s, women should learn about the benefits and limitations of BSE and begin monthly BSE. Clinical breast exams are done by a provider and should be done annually for all women ages 40 and older and high-risk women ages 19 to 39, or as directed.
Another screening tool available is the mammogram, an X-ray screening used to evaluate breast tissue. Ask a provider when to begin mammograms. They should be done every one to two years beginning at age 40.
Always call a provider promptly if any of the following are noticed: a lump, breast thickening or change in breast shape; nipple discharge; skin dimpling, puckering or change in color or texture; or breast swelling, redness or heat.
Reduce the risk.
Lifestyle measures that may lower breast cancer risks include: weight control, a regular exercise routine and limiting alcohol to less than one drink a day. Choose a diet low in animal fat and protein and rich in fruits and vegetables – five to nine servings a day. These lifestyle changes help build overall health, which is a major factor in fighting disease in general.
For more information about breast cancer, breast self-exams or mammograms, call your health clinic.
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MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. – With 216,000 people diagnosed this year, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, according to the American Cancer Society. It is also the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer, with an estimated 40,000 deaths so far in 2004.
Risk factors associated with breast cancer include being a female; a personal history of breast cancer; previous biopsies for benign breast disease; having a mother, sister or daughter who has had breast cancer; excess exposure to radiation; and age. According to the ACS, approximately eight out of 10 breast cancer cases are in women over age 50.
Additional risk factors include alcohol intake beyond one drink a day; starting menstruation before age 12; menopause after age 50; no pregnancies or first childbirth after age 30; and lengthy use of hormones after menopause.
The best protection is early detection.
Breast cancer is most curable when it is caught in the earliest stages. Early diagnosis of breast cancer greatly improves the likelihood that treatment will be successful.
Screening examinations for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year. The goal is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms. Research has shown that monthly breast self-exams and self-awareness are the best way to detect potentially cancerous lumps and other breast changes.
Beginning in their 20s, women should learn about the benefits and limitations of BSE and begin monthly BSE. Clinical breast exams are done by a provider and should be done annually for all women ages 40 and older and high-risk women ages 19 to 39, or as directed.
Another screening tool available is the mammogram, an X-ray screening used to evaluate breast tissue. Ask a provider when to begin mammograms. They should be done every one to two years beginning at age 40.
Always call a provider promptly if any of the following are noticed: a lump, breast thickening or change in breast shape; nipple discharge; skin dimpling, puckering or change in color or texture; or breast swelling, redness or heat.
Reduce the risk.
Lifestyle measures that may lower breast cancer risks include: weight control, a regular exercise routine and limiting alcohol to less than one drink a day. Choose a diet low in animal fat and protein and rich in fruits and vegetables – five to nine servings a day. These lifestyle changes help build overall health, which is a major factor in fighting disease in general.
For more information about breast cancer, breast self-exams or mammograms, call your health clinic.