Breast Cancer Prevention

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. Breast cancer is the most common kind of cancer found in women, and the second deadliest behind lung cancer.

About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. While most people are aware of breast cancer statistics, many forget to take the preventive steps needed for lowering risk and early detection.
 
Who Gets Breast Cancer?
 
Studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older.
 
Some risk factors for breast cancer are things you cannot change, such as getting older or being female. Some women inherit certain gene mutations from their parents or have a family history breast cancer. Some women have higher risk because of other specific genetic factors, like the color of their skin, or how tall they are. Certain other conditions - like having dense breast tissue or having more menstrual cycles because they either started menstruating early or went through menopause late – are all risk factors you have no control over.

---

Dense Breast Q&A Guide
Download PDF here

​What Can I Do to Lower My Risk?
 
Other risk factors for breast cancer are related to lifestyle and personal behaviors, such as diet and exercise. There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things you can do that might lower your risk.

• Eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
• Get regular physical activity.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Limit alcohol intake to no more than one drink per day.
• Do not smoke. Or, quit smoking
• If you are taking, or have been told to take, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills), ask your doctor about the risks and find out if it is right for you.

---

Healthy Living & Personal Risk Guide
Download PDF here

​
What Are Breast Cancer Screenings?

Breast cancer screening means checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. Annual women’s preventive screenings are generally covered at no cost to you by your employer-sponsored health plan. By following these three steps, you will help increase your chance of detecting breast cancer early.

• Breast Self-Awareness
  Breast self-awareness can help you become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel. Knowing this will help you identify any changes in your breasts that should be reported to your health care professional promptly. If you find a lump, schedule an appointment with your doctor, but don’t panic – most lumps are not cancer.
  
  
• Well Woman Exam
  It is recommended that women visit their family physician or gynecologist each year for a Well-Woman Exam. In addition to a routine pelvic exam and pap smear, the doctor may perform a brief breast exam to check for abnormalities. The Well-Woman Exam is a great opportunity for you to discuss with your health care provider any questions or concerns you have regarding your breast health.
  
  
• Mammogram
  In its early stages, breast cancer doesn’t usually cause symptoms. The National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends that women ages 40 and older get a mammogram every year. It is a safe way to detect cancerous tumors and other abnormal breast conditions, and women who have screening mammograms have a lower chance of dying from breast cancer than women who do not have screening mammograms. They provide an effective way to find breast cancer in its early stages when treatment is usually the most successful. Mammograms are considered safe, quick, and relatively painless.

---

Mammogram 101
Download PDF here

Materials provided by the National Breast Cancer Foundation