Finding breast cancer early

Finding breast cancer early

Other than lifestyle changes, the most important action a woman can take is to follow the
American Cancer Society's guidelines for early detection (outlined in the section, "Can
breast cancer be found early?"). Early detection will not prevent breast cancer, but it can
help find it when the likelihood of successful treatment is greatest.
For women who are or may be at increased risk
If you are a woman at increased risk for breast cancer (for example, because you have a
strong family history of breast cancer, a known genetic mutation of a BRCA gene, or you
have had DCIS, LCIS, or biopsies that have shown pre-cancerous changes), there may be
some things you can do to reduce your chances of developing breast cancer. Before
deciding which, if any, of these may be right for you, talk with your doctor to understand
your risk and how much any of these approaches might lower this risk.