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Maintaining Good Breast
Health
 
No one really knows what causes breast cancer. Basically, if you're
a woman, you're at risk. However, there are breast care steps that you can
take to lower your risk and reduce your chances of developing breast
cancer. Knowing the risk factors and practicing good breast health can
help you recognize and react to breast cancer's earliest warning signs.
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Breast Health
Habits
Good breast health starts by following good breast health habits.
Medical professionals recommend the following:
- Performing monthly breast
self-exams (BSE), beginning at age 20
- Receiving an annual clinical
breast exam (CBE) from your doctor
after age 40
- Receiving annual mammograms,
beginning at age 40
Breast Cancer Myths
Because the causes of breast cancer are not yet fully known, many
people have misconceptions about the disease. Here are ten common
beliefs about breast cancer that are NOT true.
- Only women get breast cancer
- If a woman is diagnosed with
breast cancer, she will likely die from it
- Only women with a family history
of breast cancer are at risk
- Small-breasted women cannot get
breast cancer
- Breast-feeding causes breast
cancer
- Large-breasted women are at
greater risk for breast cancer
- Breast implants increase the risk
of developing breast cancer
- A discharge from the nipple
indicates breast cancer
- Using birth control pills causes
cancer
- Drinking coffee increases the risk
of breast cancer
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