Can breast cancer be detected early?
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Early detection may be your best defense against breast cancer. The earlier you can detect breast cancer, the better your chance for a cure. Regular breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms are the key.Women should do a breast self-exam each month - if any lumps or other changes appear, see a doctor. Every year (some experts say every three years until age 40) women should have a health care professional do a clinical breast exam. Women should have mammograms every year or two after age 40, and every year after age 50. Some women at high risk for breast cancer may need MRI screening, or they may need to start other tests at a younger age.
Early detection may be your best defense against breast cancer. The earlier you can detect breast cancer, the better your chance for a cure. Regular breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms are the key. Women should do a breast... More -
Dr. Stuart Linder answered:Breast cancer detection is vital especially when one out of seven to eight women will develop a form of breast cancer in her life. The earliest detection can be performed by self-breast examinations as well as by early mammography. Monthly self-breast examinations should be performed by all women. Noticeable masses, lumps or significant changes should lead you to notify your doctor immediately. Women 40 years and older should have a baseline mammogram performed. In our elective cosmetic surgical patients, we prefer 35 years of age for the initial baseline mammogram. Women should then have mammograms every one to two years after the age of 40 and every year after the age of 50. With a strong family diathesis of breast caner, patient should undergo after the age of 40 annual mammograms and possible MRI screenings. Noticeable calcifications or masses, especially increased in size, should lead to immediate biopsy and tissue diagnosis.
Breast cancer detection is vital especially when one out of seven to eight women will develop a form of breast cancer in her life. The earliest detection can be performed by self-breast examinations as well as by early mammography. ... More
