Breast Care Guide for Patients

Breasts cancer awareness begins with emphasis on prevention and early detection. It is important to perform self-breast exams and also have the exam done by a healthcare professional. These methods help to recognize when changes have occurred in the breast tissue. If you recognize any changes in how your breasts look or feel, it is important to your overall health to talk with your doctor so you have the opportunity to discuss these changes and decide about appropriate follow-up care.

It is also important to talk with your doctor and discuss your individual risk factors for developing breast cancer. Some risk factors can be modified through diet and lifestyle changes. An accurate risk assessment will help identify individuals who are at high risk and help you and your doctor make better decisions about risk reduction strategies, such as diagnostic screenings, genetic counseling, preventive medical treatments and lifestyle changes.

The suggested recommendations for breast examinations include:

Women age 20 - 39

• Do Breast Self Exam (BSE) each month.
• Do have a Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) by a health care professional every 1-3 years.

• Do BSE every month.
• Do have a yearly mammogram.
• Do have a yearly CBE by a health care professional, near the time of the mammogram.

• Follow recommended guidelines for early detection.
• Talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy.
• Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days.
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
• Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods and limit high-fat foods.
• Decrease alcohol intake.

1. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with the exception of skin cancer.
2. One out of nine women are at risk for developing breast cancer based on a life expectancy of 85 years.
3. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women.
4. Men can also develop breast cancer.
5. At present, there is no proven way to prevent breast cancer.
6. The best way that a woman can protect herself against breast cancer is by practicing early detection and reducing known risk factors.
7. Caucasian females are more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American females but breast cancer death rates are 30 percent higher for African- American women.
8. In the 1990s the death rate from breast cancer has decreased because of earlier detection and improved treatment.
9. If a breast cancer is found and treated early, before it has spread beyond the breast, the 5 year survival rate is more than 95%.
10. Early detection is key to successful treatment and a positive outcome.