SECTIONS

Good Habits of Breast Health – Early detection of breast cancer

What you can do and discuss with your doctor

1. Monthly self breast examinations (SBE), beginning at age 18
   

2. Annual clinical breast exam from your doctor after age 40 (Every three years for women age 20 to 39).
   

3. Most countries advocate screening mammography from the age of 50 onwards. However, this should be available to women 40 years and above as well. In countries where the incidence of breast cancer is high and in countries where breast cancer in the premenopausal age group is higher, it is recommended that screening begin from age 40 years. The American Cancer Society recommends annual screening mammogram from 40 to 49 years of age, while the National Cancer Institute of America recommends screening mammogram from 40-49 years.  (See article on the Mammography Debate)
   

4. Ask your doctor how to determine your personal risk for breast cancer.  Your requirements for mammography regardless of age may be determined by your risk factor and the presence of other breast conditions. Blanket advice may not apply to you.
   

5. If you suspect any abnormalities, see your doctor immediately. Be responsible for your own breast health! You may need a mammogram although you are less than 40 years old!
   

MEN ARE NOT TO BE LEFT OUT!

For men, especially if you have a history of breast cancer in your father or brother, you should examine your breasts regularly as well (once a month on the same date). See your doctor immediately if there are changes in your breast. Remember early detection also applies to better chance of cure for you.
 

Why the 3-pronged strategy for early detection of breast cancer?

You may be wondering why you need 3 different steps to ensure a good chance of picking up breast cancer early. This is because no one method is perfect but together, they work in synergy. 

These are discussed from various angles in the articles on this website but are summarised below. 

Key messages

• Regular self breast examination can pick up lesions averaging 2 cm in size but an experienced doctor/health provider can pick up lesions which are half that size!  

• However, it is neither practical nor cost effective to visit you doctor monthly for the physical breast examination. Therefore, regular self breast examination is essential. Besides, with regular self breast examination, no one will know your breast as well as you do! 

• Once you are in the right age group, mammography should be considered because this procedure can pick up lesions as small as a grain of rice, and also lesions that cannot be felt.
   

Take Charge of
your own Breast Health

It's never to early or late to be breast aware and start all the good habits of breast health.