Each woman's breast will change during her lifetime. The shape, size, and feel of one's breasts will be influenced by monthly menstrual cycles, childbirth, breast-feeding, birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy, menopause, weight changes, and age. You should examine your breasts on the same day of each as a routine health habit. When you do breast self-examination, you are looking for a lump or an unusual thickening that feels different from the rest of your breast. If you find any changes, you should report them to your Health Care Provider immediately.
Breast cancer effects everyone.
About 75 percent of all breast cancers are found in women over the age of 50. Whether your risk of breast cancer is low or high, there are some practical steps that you can take. A mammogram is a low dose x-ray picture of the breast. A diagnostic mammogram is a procedure that can be done at any age for changes in breast size, discharge, or lump. Women should get a mammogram where the equipment, technologists, physicians and procedures meet the nationally recognized standards, such as accreditation by the American College of Radiology and certification by the Food and Drug Administration.