As you probably know, October is breast cancer month – once again, I encourage you to be sure to have your yearly mammogram, if you are over forty, and to also do your breast self-exams. Of course a yearly clinical exam by a physician/health care provider goes along with this.

The mammogram and the breast self-exam are the best ways to detect early cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. For women under forty, risk factors are taken into consideration to determine the time to start mammograms if needed earlier than the recommended age of forty. The breast self-exams are for every woman. The self-exams are even more important for those younger women for who are not “recommended” to get the yearly mammogram because they are under forty years of age.

Age itself is a risk factor; that said, there are still many women under forty who find themselves with a diagnosis of breast cancer. Therefore self-exams are an integral part of early detection. The best time for doing the breast self-exam is right after your period, and it should be done every month. This way a woman can become more aware of changes when she is used to doing this regularly.

What are you personally doing for yourself to insure early detection? Are you seeing your health provider on a yearly basis for a clinical exam, and a yearly mammogram if you are over forty? Are you versed in the breast self exam, and are you performing it on a monthly basis? Mark these appointments for your good health in your datebook!

Warmest regards for your good health,

Lorraine

This entry was posted by Lorraine Calhoun on October 1st, 2007 under Mid-Life with keywords .

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