Wellness Guide: Breast Cancer

How Your Doctor Can Help

There are many ways your doctor or other healthcare provider can help you detect breast cancer during its earliest stages – when it is more treatable.

Mammography: A mammogram is a special type of x-ray of your breast. It is designed to find abnormalities (a mass or growth that might be cancerous or abnormal microcalcifications). However, not all abnormalities are found during a mammogram and not all abnormalities found are cancer. You may have heard from others that having a mammogram hurts— having breast cancer hurts more. A mammogram does involve squishing your breasts between two plates for just a few seconds. These few seconds of discomfort are well worth it – they could save your life!

If you are 40 years or older — get a mammogram ANNUALLY. One mammogram is not enough. Celebrate your life by going every year! Many women go during their birthday month. Also know there are many places that offer free or low cost mammograms.

Clinical Breast Examination (CBE): Your health care provider will do a clinical breast examination every three years for women in their 20's and 30's and annually for women 40 and older. During this examination your provider will feel and look at your breast and surrounding chest area. They will also examine your underarm and the area around your neck to see if there are any lumps that might be connected to a problem in your breast. If your doctor does not feel under your arms or around your neck you should ask them to examine those areas.



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