YOU are in charge of your breast health Life is made up of choices and decisions. It is up to us to make the best decision or choices for ourselves. However, for that to happen, we need to know and be aware of the facts, the myths and the accepted practices and recommendations of qualified health professionals. In addition, medical knowledge is continually updating, changing as new and more information is found from research. As such, we should be aware that recommendations made today may be sound and based on current knowledge but may change with time. Make the habits of good breast health your routine. Even though the majority of breast disorders are benign (non-life threatening), breast cancer awareness is necessary. On the other hand, preoccupation with breast cancer is also unhealthy. One has to strike a balance! One of the disturbing aspects of breast cancer is that so little can be done to prevent it. Most risk factors cannot be predicted or controlled, especially genetically based premenopausal cancers. Lifestyle improvements represent smart steps for a healthier life, since they also prevent heart disease, diabetes and many other chronic, life threatening conditions. The best chance of cure for breast cancer is to treat it at its earliest stages. Remember that fear of the disease does not make it go away. For women in their forties and older, a monthly self breast examination is not a substitute for regularly scheduled screening mammograms and clinical breast examinations by a health professional. Breast cancer is curable if detected early and you can live a normal life after treatment. | 
