"Early Detection Is A Woman’s Only Weapon In Bringing Breast Cancer Under Control."

Risk Factors

A woman’s risk of breast cancer increases over her lifetime. At age 30, about 1 out of 2,525 women will develop breast cancer. By the time a woman reaches eighty years of age the risk will have increased to a 1 in 10 probability. In 1997, approximately 180,000 women developed breast cancer and about 44,000 are expected to die from the disease according to the National Cancer Institute.

The cause of breast cancer is unknown. While simply aging increases the risk of breast cancer, there are a number of known risk factors to be aware of:

family history (mother, sister, daughter or two or more close relatives) of diagnosis of breast cancer, especially at a young age

first pregnancy after the age of 30, or no pregnancies

onset of menstruation before the age of 12

onset of menopause at a late age

obesity

previous personal history of breast cancer

genetic changes (BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations)

Importantly, most women who develop breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease and do not have any other specific noted risk factor.

Symptoms

Most breast masses are benign, but all need evaluation. Some symptoms to be aware of are:

Persistent lump or thickening

Nipple discharge

Breast pain or swelling

Skin dimpling

Early Detection

Early detection means prevention of needless deaths. Women themselves detect approximately 95% of breast cancers. It is recommended that women:

Perform regular breast self-examination

Have an annual clinical examination by a physician

Follow American Cancer Society guidelines for mammography:

Baseline study by age 35-40

Every 1 to 2 years between ages 40-50

Yearly after age 40

While mammography is currently the most effective method of detecting breast cancer, a diagnosed "normal" mammogram does not guarantee the total absence of cancer.

Inland Imaging Breast Diagnostic Centers

Inland Imaging Breast Diagnostic Centers offer a comprehensive program for the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer, in an understanding and caring atmosphere. A female radiologic technologist, certified by the American Cancer Society performs the mammogram. Inland Imaging utilizes low-dose film imaging techniques for mammography and uses the most modern equipment available. Patients are shown an educational video on breast health. If tissue diagnosis is required, a non-surgical procedure called Stereotactic Guided Breast Biopsy may be performed, or if surgery is recommended, Breast Localization can also be performed.

Self-Check 28 Program

Inland Imaging is a sponsor of the Self-Check 28 program. This program is to remind you to do a monthly self breast exam. If you would like more information on the program and/or where you can pick up an instructional shower card, click here.