Breast Cancer Screening

RWJBarnabas Health’s 3-Step Plan for Preventative Care

The best way to prevent breast cancer is to make sure you are following the recommendations of your doctor for routine breast care.

What is the 3-Step Plan?

Finding breast cancer early is the primary goal of the plan because it gives you the best chance for successful treatment. Routine care can also help find other noncancerous or benign conditions, too.

Step 1. Breast Self-Exam (BSE)

A BSE is when a woman feels her breasts for lumps. There is some debate among health professionals about the effectiveness of monthly BSEs because evidence suggests they do not lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. However, the American Cancer Society (ACS) says all women should get to know how their breasts typically look and feel so changes can be detected.

If you recognize any of the changes below, see your health care provider right away.

• A lump
• Leaky fluid, or discharge, other than breastmilk
• Swelling
• Skin irritation or dimpling
• Nipple problems (for example, pain, redness, flaking, or turning inward)

Talk with your healthcare provider about the benefits and limitations of BSEs.

Step 2. Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)

Your yearly physical exam should include a clinical breast exam (CBE) by a physician or nurse trained to check for breast problems. A CBE exam is done very much like a breast self-exam. If you do regular BSEs, be sure to ask questions and talk about any concerns with your provider during your CBE.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends:

• Ages 29 to 39 - women should have a CBE by a health professional every 1 to 3 years
• After age 40 - women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year

Talk with your healthcare provider about your risk factors and the appropriateness of a CBE during your visit. That will help you and your doctor decide if you should have a CBE.

Step 3. Mammogram

A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of your breasts, and it is the most common imaging test for breast cancer screening. A mammogram can find cancer or other problems early, before a lump can be felt. It can also help diagnose other breast problems. Health experts have different recommendations for mammograms:

• The American Cancer Society recommends yearly screening for all women ages 45 to 54
  • Women 40 to 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year
  • The ACS also suggests women ages 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammogram. Screening should continue if they have a health history that supports such a decision.
• The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends screening every two years for women ages 50 to 74.

Both the National Cancer Institute and the ACS recommend that women who may be at higher risk for breast cancer talk with their health care providers about beginning yearly mammograms at an earlier age. Discuss personal risk factors with your health care provider. This conversation will help you and your doctor decide when to start getting mammograms, and how often to have them.

Wondering if a yearly mammogram is right for you? Find an RWJBarnabas Health physician or breast center.

To contact one of New Jersey’s best breast cancer specialists call
844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.