UMGCC NEWS

Breast Cancer Awareness -- What Every Woman Should Know

Ask the Expert

Get answers to your Breast Cancer questions.

Note: This is for informational purposes only. Doctors cannot provide a diagnosis or individual treatment advice via e-mail. Please consult your physician about your specific health care concerns.

Please install flash player to see this video.

Related Content

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when attention is focused on breast health and the risk of developing breast cancer. However, women should be aware of breast health, breast cancer facts, and early detection throughout the year.

Many women think that they are not at risk for developing breast cancer because they have no family history of breast cancer. Yet last year, approximately 76% of women diagnosed with breast cancer had no family history of breast cancer. While it's important to know your family history, it does not mean that a woman is not at risk for developing breast cancer just because it is not "in her family."

What are the risks associated with breast cancer? The two greatest risk factors that can not be changed are being a woman and growing older. As women age, their risk of developing breast cancer increases. Approximately 75% of breast cancers are diagnosed in women over the age of 50. It's important to remember, however, that young women and men can also develop breast cancer.

Other factors that can increase your risk of breast cancer include menarche at younger than age 12 (the age your menstrual cycles start), nulliparity (never having children), menapause at older than age 50, first pregnancy at older than age 35, obesity, alcohol intake (more than two drinks per day), and a positive genetic mutation (BRCA1 and BRCA2.)

So, what are the recommendations for breast health screening and assessment? The following three steps are important to breast health.

Monthly breast self exams or BSE (one week after cycle starts or once a month for postmenopausal women).
Clinical breast exam by health professional yearly.
Annual mammograms beginning at age 40.

Some of these recommendations may vary if a woman has a family history of breast cancer, especially if the family member was diagnosed at an early age. Your doctor or breast health professional can help you determine your screening requirements.

One of the biggest challenges women face is feeling comfortable with practicing breast self exam (BSE). Many women fear that they will not recognize a cancer when they practice BSE. Just learning what your own breast tissue feels like will enhance your comfort and knowledge of your breasts and give you greater confidence to recognize when there is a change. Many women find their own lumps. You do not need to know if it's cancer--you just need to recognize the change. If you feel a change in your breast, contact your doctor or a breast health program to be evaluated. Most lumps are not breast cancer.

When you practice BSE, here are some of the changes to look for:

A lump or change in the feel of the breast tissue
Discharge from one breast
Inversion of the nipple
Dimpling or puckering of the skin on the breast
Itching, irritated, scaly nipple
Rash on the breast
Change in the shape or size of the breast
Pain in one area of the breast

The basic message of Breast Cancer Awareness month is: Be proactive in your breast health. Breast cancer has a 95% cure rate when diagnosed at an early stage. Follow the recommended three-step method for breast health: monthly BSEs, annual clinical breast exams, and annual mammograms. When breast cancer is detected early, treatment is less, and survival is greater. Early detection is the best protection.

If you have questions about your breast health or breast cancer treatment, please feel free to contact the University of Maryland Breast Evaluation and Treatment Program at 410-328-7855

# # #

This page was last updated on: October 5, 2009.