Breast cancer screening:
Yearly mammograms are recommended for women at age 40 and should be scheduled annually under your doctor’s care.
Clinical breast exams are very important and should be done every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s. Women 40 and over should have a yearly breast exam to detect any abnormalities that the mammogram cannot detect.
Breast self-exam is a good practice to be proactive. Women in their 20s should start self-exams. Women need to get a baseline of their breasts so they can detect any differences in the future and bring it to their doctor’s attention immediately for further examination of the breast.
Most important is a good relationship with a doctor that you trust. Discuss your family history to determine the appropriate screening for you.
