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November 23, 2009
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Disease Prevention in Women (cont.)

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Approximately one in nine women who live to age 65 will develop breast cancer, although many will not do so until after age 65.

Screening tests

Who to test and how often

Breast self examination

  • All women over age 20 should perform breast self-examination monthly, preferably at about the same time in their menstrual cycle.

  • Breast examination by a doctor

  • All women over age 40 should have breast examinations by their doctors every year.

  • Mammography

  • All women should have a baseline mammogram by age 40. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends a baseline mammogram for all women by age 40 and annual mammograms for women 40 and older for as long as they are in good health.

  • In women with "lumpy breasts" or breast symptoms, and also in women with a high risk of developing breast cancer, sometimes a baseline mammogram at 35 years of age is recommended. This recommendation is somewhat controversial, and there are other viewpoints.

  • All women older than 50 should have mammograms every year.

High-risk factors include:

  • Previous breast cancer

  • Close relatives (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer. The risk is especially higher if both the mother and sister have had breast cancers, if a relative developed her cancer before age 50, if the relative had breast cancer in both breasts, if there is both ovary and breast cancers in the family, or if a male family member has been diagnosed with breast cancer

Benefits of early detection

Early detection of breast cancer is important to every woman, regardless of risk factors, because the earlier a cancer is found, the smaller it is. Studies have clearly shown that the smaller the size of the breast cancer when detected, the better the chance of a surgical cure and long-term survival. Smaller breast cancers are also less likely to have already spread to lymph nodes and to other organs such as the lungs, liver, bones, and brain.

Mammograms can detect many small breast cancers long before they may be felt by breast examinations, and there is extensive evidence that early detection by mammograms has improved survival in women with this disease.

However, some 10% to15% of breast cancers is not detected by mammograms, but are detected by breast examinations. Therefore a normal mammogram does not completely exclude the possibility of breast cancer, and breast self-examinations and breast examinations by a doctor remain important.



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Disease Prevention in Women: Preventative Measures Taken

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