Breast Changes.
Your breasts change each month from the time you start having a menstrual
period until after menopause. They may swell or become tender. You
may develop lumps, pain, or discharge from the nipple. Generally, these
changes disappear after menopause, and they may be less common if you
take birth control pills or are overweight. You may develop an infection
of the breast called mastitis. It is most common in women who are breastfeeding.
If you develop a lump, pain, discharge, or
swelling, or if the skin of the breast looks puckered/dimpled/scaly,
call your health care provider. Most lumps and changes are
not due to cancer. But it is always better to be safe than
sorry. If it is cancer, the sooner it is detected the better
changes are of treating it successfully.
Breast Cancer Prevention.
Most women who develop breast cancer have no special risk factors for
the disease. That's why it's so important for every woman to practice
early detection and prevention. Here are steps to take:
- Do a monthly breast self-exam. Most breast
lumps are found by women themselves or their partners. Check
for lumps or other changes in your breasts and under your
arms.
- Get a yearly breast exam by a health care
provider.
- Discuss your family's health history and
your personal risk factors for breast cancer with your health
care provider. If you are considering hormone replacement
therapy, discuss your risk of developing breast cancer with
your doctor.
- Get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years after
age 40, yearly after age 50, or more often if your doctor
recommends it.
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Risk Factors.
All women are at risk of breast cancer, and the risk goes up as we
age. If you have had breast cancer or if you have a close relative who
has had the disease, your risk is higher. Your risk may also be higher
if you have dense breasts a condition called atypical hyperplasia or
lobular carcinoma in situ; if you have had radiation therapy; if you
are a heavy drinker; if you eat a high-fat diet; if you had your first
child after age 30; or if you have never been pregnant.
Environmental factors like exposure to pesticides,
magnetic fields, engine exhausts, and pollution in water
and food increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
In contrast, regular exercise and a diet rich in fruits,
vegetables, and whole grains may decrease your risk of breast
cancer.
In the future:
- New Breast Imaging Techniques.
Researchers are experimenting with better, faster, and more comfortable
ways of looking for suspicious lumps or changes in breast tissue.
They are using digital technology, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
and PET (position emission technology) scanning techniques to replace
mammography.
- Hair Biopsies.
Researchers are testing to see if they can analyze changes in hair
cells to look for the presence of breast cancer.
- Nipple Fluid Samples.
Another detection method being tested uses a pump to extract some fluid
from the nipple that can be tested for cancer cells.
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