Breast Cancerearly Detection With Screening - Chapter 6 Breast Cancer Whos At Risk: Cancer

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Breast cancer-Early detection with screening

Detecting breast cancer early is your best bet for successful treatment. Screening is a multi-layered process that includes examination of your own breasts as well as clinical screening and imaging techniques.

Breast self-exams. You have probably seen a pamphlet that shows you how to do a breast self-exam. The main advantage of this technique is that it enables you to become more familiar with your breast tissue, so you may notice any changes or even detect a lump. But, unfortunately, there is little evidence that self-exams detect cancer early. As a result, there is considerable disagreement over the importance of breast self-exams. If you want to do self-exams, do so, but remember that these exams should never take the place of mammograms or regular clinical breast exams.

Clinical breast exams. Healthcare providers perform clinical breast exams (physicians perform them most often, but nurse practitioners or nurses may do them as well). Clinical breast exams are most effective in women ages 50 to 69, but they are advisable for all women.

Mammograms and MRI. A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast. (The radiation level is not sufficient to put you at risk for breast cancer.) Having regular mammograms is the best way to catch breast cancer early. Experts disagree, however, as to just when you should start undergoing mammography. Studies have found that MRI tests used in addition to mammography detected more cancers in women at high risk for breast cancer. Women at average risk would not necessarily benefit from the additional testing.

Last updated:	May 01, 2008