Breast Self-Awareness (BSA)

Posted by Unknown

1-Know your risk

  • Talk to your family to learn about your family health history
  • Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of breast cancer

2. Get screened

  • Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk
  • Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
  • Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at 20, and every year starting at 40
3. Know what is normal for you

See your health care provider right away if you notice any of these breast changes:
  • Lump, hard knot or thickening
  • Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
  • Change in the size or shape of the breast
  • Dimpling or puckering of the skin
  • Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
  • Pulling in of your nipple or other parts
  • Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
  • New pain in one spot that does not go away

4. Make healthy lifestyle choices

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Add exercise into your routine
  • Limit alcohol intake 
Source:www.cancerquest.org


0 comments
under:

Professional Advisory Board

Posted by Unknown

Members of the Professional Advisory Board (PAB) provide advice and guidance to the organization as we fulfill our mission: making sense of the complex medical information about breast cancer so women can make the best decisions for their lives. Breastcancer.org relies on the PAB to help with the conception, creation and revisions of our award-winning content. They bring their professional voice to our Web site.Many PAB members participate in our Ask-the-Expert Online Conferences as they answer questions on important topics about breast cancer. PAB members also aid in our understanding of patient needs and behaviors based on what they see in their medical practices.

0 comments
under:

Your Diagnosis

Posted by Unknown


Expert Quote
“As soon as you're diagnosed with breast cancer, you desperately try to figure out how it could have happened. You analyze your life a thousand times over, rack your brains searching for THE reason, beat your head against the wall, experience endless guilt. All you get is a headache. Drop it! Save your precious energy for your health and well–being. ”
Marisa Weiss M.D., president and founder, breast radiation oncologist, Philadelphia, PA

Meet our Medical Experts »
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

Breast cancers are as varied as the women affected by them. By looking at the many different characteristics of the cancer, you can size up its "personality" almost the way you analyze another person. Is the tumor small and low-key? Angry, aggressive, and fast-moving? Or is it very large but easy-going? Is its behavior wild and unpredictable, or does it play by the rules?
Many tests and analyses will be done over several weeks to figure out your diagnosis. The most critical test results—for your treatment and your long-term health—will tell you and your doctor:
In addition, be sure that your medical team looks at these features of the cancer:
  • size
  • tumor grade
  • hormone receptor status
  • HER2/neu oncogene overexpression
  • margins of resection
You can get this information at any time, and you should always ask for it. The laboratory keeps your tissue samples for a long time after surgery, so these tests can be done later in the process of diagnosis if you insist on it. You may have to wait a few days or weeks for some of these results. The wait can be long and nerve-wracking. But remember: no matter what the doctors find, they can do something to help you. In this section of Breastcancer.org, you'll learn how your many different test results add up to your unique diagnosis—and what that means for your treatment and your future.
For more help understanding your diagnosis, you can also use My Breast Cancer Coach. My Breast Cancer Coach is a questionnaire designed to help you better understand your type of breast cancer so you can focus on the information that's most relevant to you.
The medical expert for Your Diagnosis is Marisa Weiss, M.D., breast radiation oncologist, Main Line Health System.
Dr. Weiss is a member of the Breastcancer.org Professional Advisory Board, including more than 60 medical experts in breast cancer-related fields.
 

0 comments
under:
« Older Entries

Feeds

feeds
Get latest updates on Women Health and subscribes to our feeds

Search