Preventing Breast Cancer

Finding breast cancer early and treating it is the best way to prevent death from the disease. Breast cancer does not cause symptoms in the early stages. It is important to have screening exams and tests. These steps can help to find the cancer before symptoms appear.

• Women age 20 or older should perform a breast self-exam (BSE) every month
• Women between the ages of 20-39 should have a clinical breast exam by a health professional every three years
  • A breast exam should be performed more regularly if there is a family history or there have been previous breast biopsies
• Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year
  • Some advocate that a mammogram should be performed sooner for patients with a strong family history or whom have had previous breast biopsies performed
• After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a healthcare professional every year

Researchers are still studying the effectiveness of these measures. According to a study, getting regular mammograms starting at age 50 does appear to decrease deaths related to breast cancer. *¹