Breast Health Awareness & Prevention

Understand “Your Normal”

Instead of breast self-exams, experts now recommend that women focus on breast self-awareness. Knowing how your breasts look and feel normally will help you identify changes which may be signs of breast cancer. Speak with your physician if you notice any of the following changes:

• Skin changes such as dimpling, color changes (redness or darkening) or unusual warmth
• Masses and lumps that are new or not “your normal” (lumps can be common in women)
• Nipple discharge or new nipple retraction (chronic nipple retraction can be normal but new nipple changes should be investigated with your doctor)
• Swelling
• Unusual appearance of any part of your breast, including nipple
• Chronic pain in an isolated area of your breast

Know Your Risk

The more you understand your potential risk, the more you empower yourself to take proactive steps to prevent cancer, or detect it early.

The Hoag Early Risk Assessment (HERA) Program can help you identify your breast and ovarian cancer risk through genetic counseling and testing. For women with an elevated risk, Hoag offers the High Risk Ovarian and Breast Cancer (HBOC) Prevention Program. Women benefit from increased breast surveillance as well as lifestyle assessment and modifications to help prevent cancer and find incidents of cancer earlier.

Get Screened: Schedule Your Annual Mammogram

Screening, including annual mammograms, helps detect breast cancer in the early stages, when it’s easiest to treat and chances for survival are highest. Starting at age 40, women with an average risk of breast cancer should receive annual screening mammograms.