Around 264,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Its one of the most common types of cancer in American women.

Heres what you need to know to protect your breast health.

Your body is growing new cells all the time. Usually, these cells die off when you dont need them any longer. Cancer is a group of abnormal cells that mutate and grow out of control when your body doesnt need them. They usually form a lump or mass.

Breast cancer describes any cancer that begins in the breast. It can affect both women and men, although it is rare in men. Out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed, there is around one case found in a man.

The breast is made of lobules (milk glands), ducts, fat, tissue, lymph nodes and blood vessels. Cancer can start anywhere in the cells of the breast but is most likely to start in the lobules and ducts.

Experts dont know exactly what causes breast cancer, but they have identified some risk factors that make you more likely to get it.

Some risk factors are things you cant change, including:

Breast cancer usually isnt painful. If youre experiencing breast pain or discomfort, its more likely your menstrual cycle is the cause.

If your breast pain is severe or lasts longer than a few weeks, see your health care provider. Breast pain is rarely the main symptom of breast cancer, but it could still happen. Your provider will help you identify the cause of your breast pain and how to treat it.

In early stages, breast cancer can be too small to cause symptoms. This is what makes breast cancer screenings so important. Catching breast cancer early means its more treatable and less likely to have spread to other parts of the body.

As breast cancer grows, it can cause changes in your breasts such as:

If you notice any changes in your breasts, see your health care provider right away.

Find a Sanford Health provider.

There are steps you can take to help prevent breast cancer:

Having children also helps reduce your risk of getting breast cancer, especially if you have children before the age of 30.

The best way to protect your breast health is through regular screenings. Sanford Health recommends getting a mammogram every year starting at age 40. These screenings are important for catching breast cancer early when its most treatable.

Depending on your risk factors, you may need to get screened earlier than age 40. Talk to your doctor to learn when you should start screenings based on your personal risk.

Medical review by Michael Bouton, MD, a breast surgeon at the Sanford Medical Center in Fargo, North Dakota; Andrea Kaster, MD, a family medicine physician in the Edith Sanford Breast Center Fargo in Fargo, North Dakota; and Christina Tello-Skjerseth, MD, a radiologist at the Sanford Clinic in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Posted In Cancer, Cancer Screenings, Women's

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Breast cancer: What you need to know - Sanford Health News

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