The three primary risk factors for breast cancer are being a women, getting older, or having a mother or sister who has had the disease. These are factors that women can't do much to change. However, just because you have one or more of these risk factors does not mean you will get breast cancer. It does mean that you need to take more responsibility for your health. One way of doing this is to get a mammogram.
Treatment is more effective and survival is high when cancer is found early.
It is generally agreed that mammograms decrease deaths from breast cancer in women ages 50 and over. There is less agreement about their value for younger women. However, since mammography can show breast changes like lumps long before they can be felt, it is a good idea to have a base-line mammography sometime before age 50. Follow the advice of your health care provider in setting an appropriate schedule for you. Mammograms are now covered by most, if not all, private insurance plans.