Prevention

Symptoms of breast cancer

Breast cancer is a disease that claims the lives of so many people. Although many deaths cannot be prevented due to the severity and late stage of the breast cancer, early diagnosis goes a long way to improving mortality rates and sending individuals into remission faster. Knowing the symptoms of breast cancer can help women and men improve their chances of surviving the disease after diagnosis, as the earlier the disease is diagnosed, the better a person's chance at survival.
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Can breast cancer be prevented?

Oftentimes, individuals diagnosed with some form of cancer ask themselves and their physicians, "Could I have done something to prevent this?"

Women who are concerned about breast cancer also may wonder if they can prevent this potentially deadly disease, wondering if there is a pill, a vitamin or another method to keeping the cancer at bay. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer. However, there are many different steps to take that may help reduce the risk for cancer or increase the odds that if breast cancer is present, it can be found at a more treatable stage.
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Baseline mammogram

Doctors recommend women begin receiving mammograms at age 40 and get them once every two years until the age of 50, when they should start getting annual mammograms. Still, there are some doctors who are advising their patients to undergo a baseline mammogram ahead of age 40. Some women wonder whether it's just more unnecessary testing, or whether a baseline mammogram is another tool to help diagnose breast cancer in its earliest stages.
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How-to conduct a breast self-exam

Early detection of breast cancer can improve survival rates and lessen the severity of treatment options. Routine mammograms are essential to catching signs of breast cancer early on but so can home-based breast exams.

Over the years there has been some debate over the effectiveness of breast self-exams, or BSEs, is effective. Different breast cancer organizations have different views on the subject. Some studies have indicated that a BSE is not effective in reducing breast cancer mortality rates. Some argue that these exams also may put women at risk -- increasing the number of potential lumps found due to uncertainty as to what is being felt in the breast. This can lead to unnecessary biopsies. Others feel that a BSE is a good practice, considering that roughly 20 percent of breast cancers are found by physical examination rather than by mammography, according to BreastCancer.org.
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