Keeping informed is an important part of staying healthy. With that in mind, we have put together health-related articles and advice meant to provide the information and answers you are looking for. Access previous information through our archive of articles. [ Cold & Flu | Lyme Disease | Breast Cancer ] Breast Cancer AwarenessAbout one out of every 10 women in the United States will eventually develop breast cancer, making it the most common cancer in women. In cancer mortality, breast cancer is second only to lung cancer. Since breast cancer is highly curable if it is treated in an early stage, breast self-examination and mammography are important defensive measures. What is breast self-examination? More than 90 percent of all breast abnormalities are first detected by women themselves. Breast self-examination is a simple procedure all women should perform monthly for the early detection of breast cancer. It involves feeling for lumps, and making a careful visual inspection for other warning signs of cancer. The breast self-examination should be performed monthly, a week after the menstrual period or, after menopause, on a convenient day each month. What happens during breast self-examination? First, strip to the waist and stand in front of a mirror. Raise your hands over your head and carefully inspect both breasts for anything unusual, such as discharge from the nipples or puckering, dimpling, or scaling of the skin. Then, clasp both hands behind your head and press them forward. Next, press your hands firmly on your hips and bow slightly toward the mirror while pulling your shoulders and elbows forward. These two steps help make any changes in the shape or contour of the breasts more apparent. The next step is to examine each breast carefully with your fingers, both in a standing and lying position. Do the standing examinations while in the shower. It is easier to detect small lumps or other abnormalities when the breasts are wet and soapy. Start by raising your left arm and using the fingers of your right hand to examine your left breast firmly and thoroughly. Begin at the outer edge, pressing the flat part of the fingers in small circles and moving slowly around the breast. Gradually work toward the nipple. Pay special attention to the area between breast and armpit, and the armpit itself. Feel for any unusual lump, mass, or thickening under the skin. Then, gently squeeze the nipple and look for a discharge. Repeat the process on the right breast. Repeat step two while lying down flat on your back with an arm over your head and a pillow or towel tucked under your shoulder on the side being examined. This flattens the breast and makes it easier to examine. Spend at least two minutes examining each breast, and longer if you have large breasts. You may need a few extra minutes until you become familiar with the technique. When should I see my doctor? If you detect a lump or other suspicious sign, see a doctor as soon as possible. Many women needlessly delay seeing a doctor out of fear of cancer, self-denial, or the hope that "it will go away by itself." Three-fourths of all breast lumps are benign. And, if a lump does turn out to be cancerous, early diagnosis and treatment afford a woman the best likelihood of a cure. What is mammography? Mammography is a method of examining the breasts by using low-dose x-rays. This simple, safe procedure can detect tumors and cysts, often when they are too small to be felt by a breast self-examination. A mammogram also can help differentiate between harmless or benign tumors and cancer, although a definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy to study cells from the actual breast lump. Mammography is performed in an outpatient setting, such as a doctor's office or radiology clinic. It is performed by a technician and a radiologist interprets the x-rays. What happens during mammography? You will be asked to undress from the waist up and to remove necklaces or other jewelry in the area to be x-rayed. Depending on the type of x-ray machine that is used, you will either sit or stand in front of the x-ray cassette. The breasts are x-rayed one at a time. Two plastic plates are used to flatten or compress the breast as much as possible. This flattening of the breasts allows maximum examination with minimum exposure to the radiation. After both breasts have been filmed, you are asked to wait a few minutes before dressing to give the technician an opportunity to develop the films to make sure images are readable. If they are not, repeat x-rays are taken at this time. Does mammography cause discomfort? There may be some temporary discomfort when the breasts are compressed between the plastic plates. To minimize the discomfort, the test should be scheduled for the week following your menstrual period, when the breasts are their smallest and least tender. Any discomfort disappears as soon as the plates are removed. How long does mammography take? The entire examination can be completed in 10 to 15 minutes. Large, difficult-to-examine breasts may require x-rays from additional angles. When will I get the results of mammography? Some radiology labs or clinics provide the results within a few minutes. Others may take a few days to examine the x-rays and report the results to either you or your doctor. IMPORTANT How often a woman should have mammography is a topic of continuing controversy. The American Cancer Society recommends the following mammography schedule: - An initial screening examination between ages 35 and 40.
- Every one or two years between age 40 and 50.
- Annually after age 50.
- Women who have had breast cancer before, have a sister or mother who had breast cancer, or show warning signs of breast cancer may need mammography more frequently or beginning at a younger age.
- The National Cancer Institute no longer recommends regular mammography before age 50, citing several large studies that have failed to document improved survival rates due to mammography in younger women.
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