Defending Against Breast Cancer Arming yourself with knowledge is your best defence against breast cancer. What You Should Know. Breast cancer is common. The older you get, the higher your risk of breast cancer. At age 30, the risk is one in 6,000 per year.
Early detection is the key.
You can detect a lump through a breast self-exam, a breast exam by a health professional or a mammogram. Most breasts are lumpy during a woman's menstrual cycle. If a lump doesn't go away after a full cycle, see your doctor immediately. Remember, in many cases, a lumpectomy followed by radiation is as effective as a mastectomy. WHAT YOU CAN DO .