| Breast cancer prevention is important for women | | | | helping prevent a recurrence in women who |
| to learn about, especially since breast cancer is | | | | previously suffered from breast cancer. |
| the most commonly occurring cancer in women. | | | | A more common way to prevent breast cancer |
| The American Cancer Society's web site reports | | | | is through mammograms. A mammogram is an |
| that over two-hundred thousand women were | | | | x-ray of the breast and is the most common |
| diagnosed with this disease in 2006 and there are | | | | form of prevention. Women who are over forty |
| over two million women in the United States who | | | | years of age should get mammograms on a |
| have received treatment for breast cancer. With | | | | yearly basis. |
| numbers this staggering, preventing cancer should | | | | For women in their twenty's and thirty's, the |
| be a priority for all women. | | | | American Cancer Society's web site recommends |
| Thanks to all the new treatments available to | | | | getting clinical breast exams at least every three |
| women, death rates from breast cancer have | | | | years from a medical professional. This test is |
| declined in the last several years. When deciding | | | | performed using the tips of the fingers to check |
| how to go about lowering your chances of | | | | the entire breast area and under the arm. |
| developing breast cancer, you should consider | | | | In addition to mammograms and clinical breast |
| your risk factors. A risk factor is something that | | | | exams, women should also perform breast self |
| can increase a person's risk of developing cancer. | | | | exams each month to recognize any signs of |
| Some risk factors can be controlled but others | | | | lumps or abnormalities in the tissue. |
| are considered irrepressible. Uncontrollable risk | | | | The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is able to |
| factors are age, gender, family history, genetic | | | | help women who fall within the lower poverty |
| make-up, race and even personal medical history. | | | | levels, are uninsured or underserved gain access |
| Lifestyle risks usually fall in the "controllable" | | | | to screenings for breast cancer. This program is |
| category. | | | | called the National Breast and Cervical Cancer |
| These are things such as not exercising enough, | | | | Early Detection Program. |
| being overweight, eating a diet high in fat, using | | | | The CDC's web site touts it has served more |
| birth control and smoking. It is important to take | | | | than two million women under this program since |
| a look at your own lifestyle and family history to | | | | its inception in 1991. In 2000, Congress expanded |
| determine if you are susceptible to any of these | | | | this service by opening it up to women who are |
| risk factors. | | | | on Medicaid. This breast cancer control act, |
| There are certain medications available to women | | | | formally titled the Breast and Cervical Cancer |
| who fall under high risk factors for breast cancer. | | | | Prevention and Treatment Act, is a way to help |
| The drug Tamoxifen has been used in the United | | | | women, who may have little access to quality |
| States for over twenty-five years to help in the | | | | health care, have a chance at breast and cervical |
| fight for breast cancer prevention. The drug is | | | | cancer prevention. |
| taken once daily as a pill and interferes with the | | | | Breast cancer prevention can be a simple way to |
| female hormone estrogen, preventing it from | | | | help you live a healthier life. Although not all risk |
| attaching itself to cells in the breast tissue. | | | | factors are controllable, there are ways to help |
| This medication can also be used to treat women | | | | you recognize the warning signs of cancer. Be |
| already diagnosed with breast cancer because it | | | | smart and know your body so you can live |
| can slow down or cease the growth of cancerous | | | | cancer free. |
| cells. Tamoxifen has even been associated with | | | | |