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According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), the earlier a breast cancer is found, the greater the chances are that treatment will be successful. The following recommendations from ACS for early breast cancer detection will help you stay on top of your health as a woman:
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- Starting in their 20s, women should conduct monthly breast self exams. These self exams help women learn how their breasts normally look and feel so that any abnormal changes can be easily detected. Such changes might include development of lumps, skin irritation, dimpling, nipple pain or retraction (turning inward), redness or scaliness of the nipple or skin, or any discharge other than breast milk. Women should report any breast changes to their health professional right away.
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- Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam every 3 years as part of a regular health exam by a health professional. This is a complement to a mammogram and helps the healthcare professional learn about any changes of the breast and family history that might increase a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer. After age 40, women should have a clinical breast exam every year.
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- Screening mammograms should be done every year for women age 40 and older. This detection tool has been shown to have many benefits and current evidence supporting mammograms is stronger now than in the past. There are some limitations, but mammograms continue to be the recommended method of screening.
Click here to view a comprehensive health screening guidelines chart for women.
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For more information, or to schedule your annual screening mammogram without a doctor’s order, please call the Roswell Imaging Center at North Fulton Regional Hospital at 770-751-2900. |
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