October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so here’s a reminder to get yourself screened for breast cancer. All women should have their risk of breast cancer assessed by their physician. Those of normal risk who are under 40 should have a clinical breast exam done at least every three years by your doctor. If you’re over 40, you should have a mammagram done every 1-2 years.
You may also want to perform monthly breast self-examinations. Doing them hasn’t been proven to increase early detection,* but it’s good to be aware of your body and changes it undergoes. There’s a good Breast Self-Exam Instructional tool (available in English, Spanish, and Hindi) on the Susan G Koman for the Cure site. For German speakers, here is a very thorough and informative text on breast cancer from the German Cancer Research Center.
Note that if you are lactating, you should perform the self-exam after a breastfeeding session when your breasts are emptied.
* Clinical breast exams have not been proven to increase early detection either, mammagrams are the most effective means of early detection, so be sure to get them done regularly once you reach 40, or earlier if you are at higher risk for breast cancer.
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