TALK TO YOURDOCTOR TODAYABOUT SIMPLE STEPS

TO BETTER BREAST HEALTH

TALK TO YOURDOCTOR TODAYABOUT SIMPLE STEPS

TO BETTER BREAST HEALTH

Know the 8 major risk factors.

Get recommended screenings.

Make healthy choices.

And, know what’s normal for you.

Take care of your breasts.

AGEAccording to the AmericanCancer Society, most breastcancer diagnoses and breastcancer deaths occur inwomen ages 50 and older.

FAMILY HISTORYDiscuss with your doctorthe history of breast canceramong women in yourfamily and how to reduceassociated risk factors.

HEALTH HISTORYHistory of breast cancer orabnormal breast exam find-ings, and other previoushealth conditions such astype II Diabetes mayincrease risk. Find out morefrom your doctor.

MENSTRUATION /MENOPAUSEBeing younger when youhave your first menstrualperiod (younger than 12)and beginning menopauseafter age 50, put you athigher risk for breast cancer.

CHILDBIRTHWomen who have neverhad a child or who havetheir first child after age 30have an increase risk ofdeveloping breast cancer.

WEIGHTBeing overweight is a riskfactor for breast cancer.Weight, hormone therapyand alcohol consumption,are the only 3 modifiablerisk factors for breast cancer.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTIONWomen who have morethan 1 alcoholic drink dailyhave 11/2 times the risk forbreast cancer as those whodo not drink alcohol.

HORMONE THERAPYTalk to your doctor aboutthe breast cancer risk associated with HormoneReplacement Therapy (HRT).

RISK FACTORS

Weight and BMI.Maintain ahealthy weight and BMI, orBody Mass Index. BMI is ameasure of body fat calculatedby dividing your weight inpounds by height in inches.Learn more by asking yourdoctor what a healthy BMI isfor you. Weight can becontrolled by maintaining ahealthy diet and active lifestyle.

Alcohol Consumption.Women who have 2-5 drinksper day are 11/2 times atgreater risk for breast cancer?Women who have one drinkper day have a moderatelyincreased risk as well.

Hormone ReplacementTherapy (HRT). It’s importantto discuss cancer-related risksand benefits of continuingbirth control or HRT with yourdoctor.

RISK FACTORS YOUCAN CONTROL

Did you know? Breastfeeding your babies can lower your risk of developing breast cancer.i

Engage in regular physical activity atleast 150 minutes per week or 30 min. per day, mostdays of the week. According to the American HeartAssociation, all adults should avoid inactivity bygetting at least 150 min. of moderate physicalactivity each week, such as swimming or briskwalking.

MAKE HEALTHY CHOICES

EVERY DAY.

Maintain a healthy diet consisting of a variety of nutritiousfoods from all food groups, especially fruits, vegetables, whole-grains,and fat-free or low-fat dairy products. The American Heart Associationalso recommend eating less of the nutrient-poor foods such as foodand drinks high in calories, sugar and unhealthy trans-fats.

It is recommended that adult women eitheravoid alcohol or drink in moderation,no more than one alcoholic beverage per day,which would include just one of the following:12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine or1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

Recommended Screenings

It counts.Even one alcoholicdrink per day canslightly raise the riskof breast cancer.

Self Breast Exam and Clinical Breast ExamStarting at age 20

Many health care expertsrecommend doing a self-breastexam ONCE A MONTH startingat age 20 to increase yourawareness of how your breastsnormally feel and look, so anychanges can be quicklydetected and reported.

Starting at age 20, a womanshould have a clinical breastexam AT LEAST every threeyears.

MammogramsStarting at age 40

Starting at age 40, a womanshould have a mammogramEVERY year if they are ataverage risk for breast cancer.All women, 40 and older,should have a clinical breastexam EVERY year.

Find out moreabout self breast examsat www.cancer.org.

o Lump, hard knot or thickening

o Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening

o Change in the size or shape of the breast

o Dimpling or puckering of the skin

o Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple

o Pulling in of your nipple or other parts

o Nipple discharge that starts suddenly

o New pain in one spot that does not go away

Learn about recommended screenings for your age.

Talk to your doctor.

Next date to do your self breast exam

Date for your next clinical breast exam

Date for your next mammogram.

Date of last self-breast exam. Ask your doctor about the optimal time of month to do your self breast exam.

Date of last clinical breast exam (CBE). Ask your doctor about the recommended frequency of CBE’s at your age.

Date of last mammogram. Ask your doctor about the recommended frequency of mammograms for your age and risk factors.

Talk to your health care provider if you notice ANY of these breast changes.

Talk with your physician to set clear goals for a healthier you.

Set Goals.

_____ Current Body

Mass Index (BMI)

_____ Current Weight

_____ Current servings

of fruits and

vegetables per day

_____ Current minutes

physical activity

per week

(150 min. recomm.)

_____ GOAL Body

Mass Index

_____ GOALWeight

_____ GOAL servings

of fruits and

vegetables per day

_____ GOAL minutes

physical activity

per week

(150 min. recomm.)

Now that I have the knowledge and tools to take care of mybreasts, I am a proud member of the Ta-Ta Sisterhood!

Special thanks in part to the support of the AVON Foundation for Womenand the Breast Health Outreach Program.

The Ta-Ta Sisterhood is a program of the Central Georgia Cancer Coalition, a focused initiative of Community Health Works.