Except for skin
cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S., but it can be
successfully treated. Screening tests can find cancer early, when chances for
survival are highest. Regular screening tests (along with follow-up tests if diagnosed) reduce your chance of dying from breast cancer.
1. Know your risk
- Talk
to both sides of your family to learn about your family
health history
- Talk to a doctor about your risk of breast cancer
2. Get screened
- Talk
with a doctor about which screening tests are right for you if you are at higher
risk
- Have a mammogram
every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
- Have a clinical
breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year
starting at age 40
- Sign up for your screening reminder at www.komen.org/reminder
3. Know what is normal for you
See a doctor if
you notice any of these breast changes:
- Lump, hard knot
or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
- Swelling, warmth,
redness or darkening of the breast
- Change in the size or shape of the
breast
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin
- Itchy, scaly sore
or rash on the nipple
- Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the
breast
- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
- New pain in
one spot that doesn't go away
To see illustrations of these
warnings signs, please visit the breast cancer Warning Signs &
Symptoms page.
4. Make healthy lifestyle
choices
Breast Self-Awareness Message
Videos
Watch and share our breast self-awareness videos. Additional breast self-awareness materials and
translated
materials may be found in the Tools
& Resources section of our website.
Breast Self-Awareness Message
Cards
We offer a variety of Breast Self-Awareness Message cards in
different languages from our Translated Materials page. You can also download and print these cards from our Educational Materials page.