Women can take charge of their own breast health by understanding their personal risk of the disease and reporting any breast change promptly to their health care professional. All women, beginning in their twenties, should have a clinical breast exam as part of their regular exam. It is important for women age 40 and older to have a mammogram and clinical breast exam every one to two years, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Mammography can usually detect breast cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage long before a lump can be felt. Survival rates for breast cancer have improved greatly, but early detection is still your best defense.

Women considered to be in a high risk category should talk to their health care provider about how often they should get a mammogram and clinical breast exam. Factors such as advancing age and, a rare gene alteration in some family groups result in higher risk. According to the National Cancer Institute, other risks include personal history of breast cancer, certain breast changes, the use of hormones, late childbearing, or not having children. Some studies have shown a connection between increased alcohol consumption and increased breast cancer risk. Being overweight after menopause has been discussed in studies as increasing risk and also complicating detection.

Symptoms that may indicate breast cancer:

Lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
Change in the size or shape of the breast
Nipple discharge (other than milk)
Nipple turning inward
Change in the color or feel of the skin on or near the breast or underarm area

Cervical Screenings

Approximately half of all cervical cancers occur in women who have never been screened. Therefore, screening is particularly important in women who have never or rarely been screened.

Cervical cancer is now nearly 100% preventable and treatable with timely interventions. Over the last 40 years, widespread cervical cancer screening using the Pap test and treatment of pre-cancerous cervical conditions have resulted in a marked reduction of the incidence and deaths due to cervical cancer in the United States.

Approximately 99 percent of cervical cancer is attributed to a virus known as human papillomavirus (HPV). The virus is spread through sexual contact and women can be infected with HPV and not know it. There is a new HPV vaccine that prevents some types of cervical cancer. This immunization promises to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer even more over time.

Ways to prevent or treat cervical cancer are:

Have regular Pap tests which can find cell changes in the cervix early
Females should start getting regular Pap tests about 3 years after they begin sexual activity
All women should have a Pap test by the age of 21 regardless of sexual activity
Follow up promptly on any abnormal Pap test results
Receive the HPV vaccinations before the age of 27 years

Studies also suggest that smoking, a weakened immune system, and multiple sexual partners increase your risk of cervical cancer.

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