Breast Cancer Prevention

Learn About Breast Cancer Screening

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

A 3-Step Plan for Breast Cancer Prevention

Breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms make up the 3-step plan for breast cancer prevention. Finding breast cancer early is the primary goal of the plan because it gives you the best chance for successful treatment. Routine breast cancer screening can also help find other noncancerous or benign conditions, too.

Step 1. Breast Self-Exam (BSE)

This is when a woman feels her breasts for lumps. There is some debate among health professionals about the effectiveness of this breast cancer screening measure because evidence suggests BSEs 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.

See your health care provider right away if you recognize:

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

Step 2. Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)

Your yearly physical exam should include a clinical breast exam by a physician or nurse trained to check for breast problems. A CBE exam is done very much like a BSE. 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 the following as breast cancer screening guidelines:

  • Women between the ages of 29 to 39 have a CBE by a health professional every 1 to 3 years.
  • Women who are older than 40 have a breast exam by a health care professional every year.

Talk with your health care 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

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 mammogram at an earlier age.

Schedule Your Mammogram

The Importance of a Mammogram

woman having 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 or other early signs of breast cancer are present. This allows a diagnosis in the earliest stages of the disease.

Early detection results in better outcomes. Based on recent data, average survival rates at five years for women diagnosed with breast cancer are 91 percent for localized disease and 85 percent for regional disease.

Health experts have different breast cancer screening guidelines for mammograms:

  • The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends yearly screening for all women ages 45 to 54.
  • Women 40 to 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram each year.
  • Women ages 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue with yearly mammograms. 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.

Discuss personal risk factors with your health care provider. The 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.

Why Choose Us for Breast Cancer Care?

RWJBarnabas Health, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, the state’s only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, meets the highest standards in breast cancer research, treatment, prevention and education in the country.

Logos of The Rutgers Cancer Center of New Jersey-Rutgers Health and NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center

To schedule an appointment with one of New Jersey’s best breast cancer specialists call 844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.

Patient Stories

  • Sisters, Nurses, Breast Cancer Survivors

    Gladys and Grace
    Read More
  • Mother, Advocate, 11-Year Breast Cancer Survivor

    Maureen
    Read More
  • Mother, Wife, 8-Year Breast Cancer Survivor

    Kristine
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
Medical Specialty Services at Bayonne
16 East 29th Street
Bayonne, NJ 07002
(973) 926-7280
View
Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center
377 Jersey Avenue
Ground Floor, Medical Office Building
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(877) 393-5374
View
Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Westfield
560 Springfield Ave
Westfield, NJ 07090
(973) 322-7020
View
Barnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7000
View
Community Medical Center’s Comprehensive Breast Center
368 Lakehurst Rd
1st Floor
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-3363
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Howell
4013 Route 9
Suite 2S
Howell, NJ 07731
(732) 923-7700
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Colts Neck
310 Route 34 South
Second Floor
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
(732) 923-7700
View
Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation Infusion Center
414 Grand Street
Suite 9
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2730
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7700
View
Jersey City Medical Center Radiation Oncology
631 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07304
(844) 226-2376
View
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
View
Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
View
Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
View
Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
View
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
195 Little Albany St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-2465
View
Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
View
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
RWJ University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 381-4200
View
RWJ University Hospital Somerset
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2200
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Lakewood
600 River Ave
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 923-7700
View
Trinitas Regional Medical Center – Williamson Street Campus
225 Williamson St
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
View
The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
View
Monmouth Medical Center Outpatient Infusion Center
100 State Route 36 West
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 222-6046
View
RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
View
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
Jersey City Medical Center Women's Health at Grove Street
116 Newark Avenue
(at Grove Street PATH Plaza)
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 984-1270
View
Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Livingston
200 South Orange Avenue
Suite 102
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7020
View
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
600 River Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 363-1900
View
The Family Health Center (FHC) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
166 Lyons Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
125 Paterson Street
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-6200
View
Community Medical Center Women’s Imaging Center – Barnegat
770 Lighthouse Drive
Suite 118A
Barnegat, NJ 08005
(848) 208-6203
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group at Monroe
800 Bunn Drive
Suite 303
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 655-5178
View
Laurie Proton Therapy Center
141 French Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 253-3176
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group
18 Centre Drive
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(609) 655-5178
View
Cancer Center at RWJ Hamilton
2575 Klockner Road
Hamilton Township, NJ 08690
(609) 631-6960
View

Breast Cancer Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations