Baylor Dallas News

There is bad news and good news. First, the bad news is that women have a 1 in 8 chance of getting breast cancer sometime during their lives. The good news is that thanks to early detection, a diagnosis of breast cancer does not have to be a death sentence.

To help find breast cancer at its earliest,  most treatable stages, the American Cancer Society recommends the following:

TAKE MATTERS INTO YOUR OWN HANDS. Women should begin monthly breast self-exams (BSE) in their 20s and report any changes in breast health to their doctor right away. Talk with your doctor about the benefits and limitations of BSE and how to do them correctly. The most common sign of breast cancer  is a new lump or mass that is typically painless, hard, and has uneven edges. However, some cancers are tender, soft and rounded, so it’s important to have anything unusual checked by a doctor. While BSE is not the best cancer detection technique, it can help women identify other breast health concerns such as fibrocystic changes or breast pain.

SEE YOUR DOCTOR. In your 20s and 30s, your doctor should conduct a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years. During the exam, you physician will palpate for any discernable lumps. After age 40, women should have an annual breast exam.

GET SCREENED. Women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year. While mammograms can miss some cancers, they are still one of the best ways to find breast cancer. Digital mammograms and breast MRI can also be used to help detect a cancerous lump. If you’re at high risk for breast cancer, talk with your doctor about the best approach for you. This might mean starting mammograms before age 40, having extra screening tests or getting more frequent exams.

You know your breasts best, so watch for these other signs of breast cancer:

• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Distinct single lumps that are either hard or soft
• Skin irritation or dimpling, thickening, roughness, puckering or "orange peel" (pebbly) skin
• Breast pain
• Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward; any changes in nipple location or shape
• Redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• A nipple discharge other than breast milk
• A lump in the underarm area
• Breast sores that don't heal

If you experience any of these symptoms, see your physician. For a referral to a physician on the medical staff at Baylor Dallas, click here.

To learn more about breast health screenings at the Darlene G. Cass Women’s Imaging Center, click here.