Breast Cancer Screening    

Breast Cancer
Who should be screened?
The American Cancer Society suggests the following guidelines for early detection of cervical cancer:

TABLE HERE
Population
Test or Procedure
Frequency
Women, age 20+
Breast self-examination
Monthly, starting at age 20
Clinical breast examination
Every 3 years, ages 20-39
Annual, starting at age 40+
Mammography
Annual, starting at age 40+

What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer, a common cancer in women, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the breast. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. The lobes and lobules are connected by thin tubes called ducts. The most common type of breast cancer is ductal cancer. It is found in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular cancer. Lobular cancer is more often found in both breasts than other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer. In this disease, the breast is warm, red, and swollen.
Hereditary breast cancer makes up approximately 5% to 10% of all breast cancer cases. The genes in cells carry the hereditary information that is received from a person’s parents. Several genes have been found to be defective in some breast cancer patients. Relatives of breast cancer patients who carry these defective genes may be more likely to develop breast or ovarian cancer. Some defective genes are more common in certain ethnic groups. Tests are being developed to determine who has the genetic defect long before any cancer appears.
For more information on breast cancer, click here.