As we celebrate Mother’s Day, it’s important to recognize the invaluable role that mothers play in our lives and the significance of prioritizing their health and well-being.Â
Mammograms save lives! Moms are always putting the needs of others before their own. This Mother’s Day, we encourage women and those assigned female at birth to schedule their mammograms. When diagnosed early, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is over 90 percent. A missed mammogram could mean a delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Don’t miss your mammogram!
Everyone is at risk of breast cancer, and some of us are at a higher risk than others. Learning about your breast cancer risk can empower you to make important breast care decisions to take charge of your health.
Factors linked to an increased risk
Start by understanding which risk factors are linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Being born female is the most common risk factor for breast cancer. Although men can get breast cancer, it’s about 100 times more common in women. Age is another common risk factor. As you get older, you’re more likely to get breast cancer. Being overweight or obese after menopause, drinking alcohol and taking menopausal hormone therapy are all linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. Smoking may also be linked to an increased risk.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released their final recommendation statement on May 1, 2024 for breast/chest cancer screening.Â
New guidance from the Task Force recommends that breast/chest screening start at age 40 and continue every other year through age 74. This is a shift from their previous recommendation of starting at 50 years old.Â
Talk with your PHC health care provider and discuss any concerns you have about your breast cancer risk and what to do next.
- How can I find out if I’m at higher risk of breast cancer? How accurate are the methods? How will this information help me?
- How do I find out if I have dense breasts? How does having dense breasts affect my risk of breast cancer? What breast cancer screening tests should I have?
- What’s the best way to manage my menopausal symptoms?
- What breast cancer screening tests should I have? When should I start? How often should I get screened?
This article excerpted from Susan G. Komen Foundation.