Your Breast Care: Helpful Hints for Women
Click here to watch Breast Self-Awareness Interactive Video (ENGLISH)
Click here to watch Breast Self-Awareness Interactive Video (SPANISH)
Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. Screening tests can find cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® recommends that you:
1. Know your risk
- Talk to your family to learn about your family health history
- Talk to your provider about your personal risk of breast cancer
2. Get screened
- Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk
- Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
- Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40
3. Know what is normal for you
See your health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes:
- Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
- Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
- Change in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin
- Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
- Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
- New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away
To see illustrations of these warnings signs please visit the Breast Facts section.
4. Make healthy lifestyle choices
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Add exercise into your routine
- Limit alcohol intake
- Limit postmenopausal hormone use
- Breastfeed, if you can
Breast Self-Awareness Interactive Video
View our new interactive video highlighting the four key messages of breast self-awareness: Know your risk, Get Screened, Know what is normal for you and Make healthy lifestyle choices, along with action items associated with each message. Illustrations that represent the eight breast changes that should be reported to your doctor are included. This short video is broken down by each breast self-awareness message and can be used to increase awareness of breast cancer and empower women to take charge of their health.
Click here to watch Breast Self-Awareness Interactive Video (ENGLISH)
Click here to watch Breast Self-Awareness Interactive Video (SPANISH)
Breast Self-Awareness Cards
Susan G. Komen for the Cure® offers a variety of breast self-awareness cards in different languages and for specific populations. You can download and print these cards for yourself.
If you would like to purchase any of these cards in bulk quantities, please visit ShopKomen.com.
Updated April 2, 2012
