Breast Cancer Awareness: Empowering Your Health

There’s life-saving power in preventive care, and breast cancer screenings are no exception. Yearly recommended screenings hold the key to early detection—a critical factor that significantly improves the chances of successful treatment.

Some Symptoms of Breast Cancer

• Pain in any area of the breast, including the nipple
• New lump in the breast or armpit
• Nipple discharge, including blood, but not milk
• Changes in the size or shape of the breast
• Changes in skin appearance or texture of the breast

Risk Factors

Being a female is the strongest risk factor for developing breast cancer. Additional factors that can increase the risk for breast cancer are:

• Age
• Obesity
• Having a family history of breast cancer
• Harmful use of alcohol
• A history of radiation exposure
• Tobacco use
• Reproductive history (age when menstruation started, age at first pregnancy)
• Postmenopausal hormone therapy

Early Detection is Key

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. It is the best way to detect early stages of breast cancer, even before it causes any symptoms or is big enough to feel during a breast self-exam. It’s important to stay on top of your yearly mammogram!

Your Health Deserves Your Attention

Talk to your provider about your unique risk for breast cancer and discuss scheduling your mammogram.