| Breast cancer prevention is important for women to | | | | Tamoxifen has even been associated with helping |
| learn about, especially since breast cancer is the most | | | | prevent a recurrence in women who previously |
| commonly occurring cancer in women. The American | | | | suffered from breast cancer. |
| Cancer Society's web site reports that over | | | | A more common way to prevent breast cancer is |
| two-hundred thousand women were diagnosed with | | | | through mammograms. A mammogram is an x-ray of |
| this disease in 2006 and there are over two million | | | | the breast and is the most common form of |
| women in the United States who have received | | | | prevention. Women who are over forty years of age |
| treatment for breast cancer. With numbers this | | | | should get mammograms on a yearly basis. |
| staggering, preventing cancer should be a priority for | | | | For women in their twenty's and thirty's, the |
| all women. | | | | American Cancer Society's web site recommends |
| Thanks to all the new treatments available to | | | | getting clinical breast exams at least every three |
| women, death rates from breast cancer have | | | | years from a medical professional. This test is |
| declined in the last several years. When deciding how | | | | performed using the tips of the fingers to check the |
| to go about lowering your chances of developing | | | | entire breast area and under the arm. |
| breast cancer, you should consider your risk factors. | | | | In addition to mammograms and clinical breast exams, |
| A risk factor is something that can increase a | | | | women should also perform breast self exams each |
| person's risk of developing cancer. | | | | month to recognize any signs of lumps or |
| Some risk factors can be controlled but others are | | | | abnormalities in the tissue. |
| considered irrepressible. Uncontrollable risk factors are | | | | The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is able to help |
| age, gender, family history, genetic make-up, race | | | | women who fall within the lower poverty levels, are |
| and even personal medical history. Lifestyle risks | | | | uninsured or underserved gain access to screenings |
| usually fall in the "controllable" category. | | | | for breast cancer. This program is called the National |
| These are things such as not exercising enough, | | | | Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. |
| being overweight, eating a diet high in fat, using birth | | | | The CDC's web site touts it has served more than |
| control and smoking. It is important to take a look at | | | | two million women under this program since its |
| your own lifestyle and family history to determine if | | | | inception in 1991. In 2000, Congress expanded this |
| you are susceptible to any of these risk factors. | | | | service by opening it up to women who are on |
| There are certain medications available to women | | | | Medicaid. This breast cancer control act, formally titled |
| who fall under high risk factors for breast cancer. | | | | the Breast and Cervical Cancer Prevention and |
| The drug Tamoxifen has been used in the United | | | | Treatment Act, is a way to help women, who may |
| States for over twenty-five years to help in the | | | | have little access to quality health care, have a |
| fight for breast cancer prevention. The drug is taken | | | | chance at breast and cervical cancer prevention. |
| once daily as a pill and interferes with the female | | | | Breast cancer prevention can be a simple way to |
| hormone estrogen, preventing it from attaching itself | | | | help you live a healthier life. Although not all risk |
| to cells in the breast tissue. | | | | factors are controllable, there are ways to help you |
| This medication can also be used to treat women | | | | recognize the warning signs of cancer. Be smart and |
| already diagnosed with breast cancer because it can | | | | know your body so you can live cancer free. |
| slow down or cease the growth of cancerous cells. | | | | |