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Self-awareness first step in fighting breast cancer

May 27, 2014

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Every 29 seconds, someone is diagnosed with breast cancer. Every 69 seconds, a woman dies of breast cancer.

In 2014, 4,520 women in Arizona will get breast cancer and 780 women, or 17 percent, will die from this disease. White women have the highest rates of new breast cancer cases, while African American and black women have higher mortality rates, often indicating that their cancer is detected at a later stage. Native American women are also less likely to be diagnosed in the early stages of the disease.

These statistics are startling in a time when medical science has made so many advances. And while a cure for breast cancer is still the ultimate goal, it is important to help all women know what they can do to protect themselves through early detection, which leads to better long-term outcomes.

The first step in educating women is to encourage them to become breast self-aware. This is more than simply completing a monthly breast self-exam. There are four important steps to self-awareness as recommended by Susan G. Komen for the Cure:

Know your risk

Talk to your family to learn about your family health history

Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of breast cancer

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 three years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40

Put an annual screening reminder on your calendar

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