Fast Facts
Men get breast cancer too, but it's far more common among women.
PREVENTION
Can breast cancer be prevented?
There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. However, it is possible to reduce your risk. You can do this by changing the things in your life you can control. And, by learning ways to detect cancer early, when it's most easily treated and cured.
Help Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer!
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
Compared with nondrinkers, women who have 1 drink a day have a very small increase in risk. Women who drink more than one drink per day can increase their risk by up to 1.5 times or more.
Eat a healthy, low-fat diet and maintain normal weight
This is good advice for living a healthy life in general. Keeping your weight at a normal level helps reduce your risk for all kinds of diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and breast cancer. It makes you feel and look better too!
Exercise regularly
Exercise not only helps you keep your weight down, it may help lower the hormones in your blood that can contribute to breast cancer. Recent studies show that exercising heavily when you are young might help protect you for a lifetime. As an adult, regular exercise can help lower your risk.
Don't smoke
If you don't smoke, don't start. If you do smoke, try to quit as soon as possible. Your breasts, your body, and your life are worth it!
Get regular breast check-ups and do self-exams...
These three breast checks won't prevent breast cancer, but they are the best way to catch it early. The sooner breast cancer is discovered, the easier it is to cure.
Doctor's Exams
Beginning at about age 18, or after you start having intercourse (whichever comes first), your female organs should be checked by a doctor (gynecologist) or other healthcare provider. Most doctors recommend you do this once a year. As part of this visit, the doctor will examine your breasts to feel for any suspicious lumps. This is called a clinical breast exam.
Breast Self-Exams
As a young woman, you should become familiar with the feel of your own breasts. This makes finding an unusual lump easier. It is wise to start doing breast self-exams once a month in your late teenage years or by the age of 20. Examine your breasts at the same time every month. The best time is right after your period ends. You should continue to examine your breasts this way for the rest of your life. Click here for useful information on breast self-exams. http://www.komen.org/bse/
Mammograms
A mammogram is an x-ray of the breasts. It is the very best way to detect cancer early. Doctors recommend that every woman get a mammogram once a year, starting at age 40. Women at higher risk (such as a family history of breast cancer) should ask their doctor if they should start having mammograms earlier. Help protect yourself and other women!
Print out this page or e-mail it as a reminder to yourself and all the women care about.