Good Habits for Good Breast Health

One in 10 women will develop breast cancer. It affects nearly 200,000 women per year. And it's the leading cause of cancer deaths for women between ages 40 and 55.

No doubt about it, breast cancer is a scary thing to think about. But thinking about it could save your life. Experts agree that nearly a third of breast cancer deaths could be prevented if women would take up a few simple habits:

• Examine your breasts monthly. Performing a breast self-exam (BSE) monthly can help you recognize changes that could signal breast cancer--a new thickness, a new lump, or physical changes like a dimple in the skin. Don't panic if you do find something--most new lumps are benign growths, NOT breast cancer. And even normal breasts can feel lumpy. Performing regular BSEs can familiarize you with what's "normal" so that you'll know when you feel something different. You may be able to reduce fibroid tumors, a common, harmless cause of "lumpiness," by cutting out caffeine. In addition, try to do your BSE at the same time each month, since hormonal fluctuations may make your breasts feel different at different times. If you do feel something abnormal, however, it's important to see your doctor promptly.

• Get a breast exam from a health professional yearly. A health care professional can help you learn good BSE techniques and answer your questions about breast cancer.

• Have regular mammograms. Mammograms can detect growths long before they are large enough for you to feel--in fact, 42 percent of breast cancers are found through mammograms alone. You should have a baseline mammogram done between age 35 and 40, and annual mammograms after you turn 40. Your doctor may recommend that you begin earlier if you have a family history of breast cancer. To reduce any discomfort, schedule your mammograms about a week after your period (breasts are less tender then), and talk with your mammogram technician about ways to make the procedure more comfortable.

• If you're at high risk, consider tamoxifen treatment. Women with a strong family history of breast cancer or other high risk factors may benefit from tamoxifen therapy, which can help prevent the disease. Talk with your doctor about whether this treatment is right for you.

• Take heart! Breast cancer treatment has greatly improved in recent years. Lumpectomies (surgical removal of the lump and some surrounding tissue) have replaced mastectomies (removal of the full breast) in treating most women with small breast cancers. Tamoxifen therapy has proved beneficial in treatment. And modern chemotherapy and radiation therapy have fewer side effects than in the past and have improved outcomes for many breast cancer patients.

Best of all, research has shown that you can make a big difference by following the good habits above. The cure rate for women with breast cancer exceeds 70 percent, and is higher in those who are screened annually.