When it comes to cancer, the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” still holds true. By staying vigilant, checking your body and knowing your personal risk factors, you’ll know what’s normal for you. Cancers are cells within the body that grow out of control and may affect the skin, brain, lungs and every other organ system. Screening, testing, and treatment varies depending on where a cancer forms or spreads (“metastasize”) and a few other factors. Typically, the earlier a cancer is detected, the more likely it can be treated with success. When it comes to cancer, the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” still holds true. By staying vigilant, checking your body and knowing your personal risk factors, you’ll know what’s normal for you. As an example, every woman’s Breast cancer risk is different, but here are screening tools that every woman should know about:
- Self-breast exam. Consult your doctor about how to perform this check. If you don’t do anything else regularly, get to know your breasts. Some lumps and bumps can be normal for some women and it’s important for you to be familiar with how your breasts feel. You should check your breasts every month—ideally the week after your period, or the same day of the month if you no longer have cycles. Take a look at your breasts in the mirror and make sure they look normal for you then use small circular motions to feel your breast starting from your armpit, covering all areas including the nipple. If you find anything out of the ordinary, see your doctor.
- Clinical breast exam. This term is often confused with a self-exam. Clinical exams are a breast exam that’s done by a medical professional, often in the same way as a self-exam is done but your healthcare provider is specially trained to feel for anything unusual that you may miss. A clinical exam is the next step if you find a lump at home, and may also be part of your annual exam. Women over 40 should have a clinical breast exam at least every year and patients in their 20’s and 30’s at least every three years.
- Genetic testing. According to Pathway Genomics, a mutation of the BRCA1 or 2 gene may be linked to families with a history of breast and ovarian cancer. You may have heard of this after actress Angelina Jolie opted to have a double mastectomy when her genetic test results showed an increased risk for the development of one of these cancers. Genetic testing is recommended for women with a personal or family history of breast cancer and isn’t part of routine screening for everyone. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about your eligibility for genetic screening.
- Mammograms are special x-rays used to detect lumps, thickening, or changes in breast tissue that may need additional testing. Cancer can’t be identified with just a mammography, but they are highly effective screening tools and can help guide your medical team about what to do next. Guidelines for mammograms change every few years, but experts say that women ages 40 to 44 with a normal risk have the option to start annual mammograms if they want to. Women 45 to 54 should get the test every year.
