Early detection is key



October is Breast Cancer Awareness month

breast cancer early detection hudson valley

Breast Cancer.

Do you know the signs and symptoms?
When was the last time you checked yourself?
Have you scheduled your mammogram yet?

Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat. So this month, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, make a promise to yourself to learn the signs, perform self breast exams regularly, and talk to your doctor about which breast cancer screening tests are right for you, and when you should have them.


Breast Cancer Risk Factors
  • Being 40 or older (risk increases with age)

  • Family history of cancer

  • Personal history of breast cancer

  • Early onset of menstruation (before age 12)

  • Completion of menopause after age 55

  • Having first child over age of 30

  • Having no children

  • Obesity

  • Alcohol use

  • A high-fat diet

  • Smoking

  • Oral contraceptives taken at an early age

Signs & Symptoms

There are different symptoms of breast cancer, and some people have no symptoms at all. However, here are some of the most noted symptoms from the CDC:
  • New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)

  • Thickening or swelling of part of the breast

  • Irritation or dimpling of breast skin

  • Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast

  • Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area

  • Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood

  • Any change in the size or the shape of the breast

  • Pain in any area of the breast
If you have any signs that worry you, see your doctor right away.