Breast Cancer Awareness

It is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and we, The staff @ Garden Oaks Dental, would like to raise a little awareness about breast cancer risks, statistics, the importance of screenings, and ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer. 

Did You Know? 

Approximately 1 in 8 women born in the United States will get breast cancer sometime in their life.  Breast cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer in women – in fact it is the second most common cancer in the female population. 

How to Reduce Your Risk of Breast Cancer ?

Here are some important steps for reducing the risk of breast cancer:

• Keep a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly (at least four hours a week).
• Don’t drink alcohol, or limit alcoholic drinks to no more than one per day. (Women who drink more than three alcoholic beverages per week have a 15% higher risk of breast cancer when compared to women who don’t drink at all.) 
• Avoid exposure to chemicals that can cause cancer (carcinogens).
• If you are taking, or have been told to take, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives (birth control pills), ask your doctor about the risks and find out if it is right for you.
• Breastfeed your babies, if possible.

Early Detection Is Important! 

According to the Center for Disease Control, these three steps make a big difference in early detection, for men and women:

• Know how your breasts normally look and feel. Do regular self-breast exams.
• Talk to your doctor right away if you notice changes in your breast(s).
• Talk to your doctor if you have a higher risk, including family history of cancer.

Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 and older, but breast cancer also affects younger women. About 11 percent of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age.

Go See Your Doctor if You Experience:  

If you experience pain; thickening or swelling; any irritation or dimpling of breast skin or nipple area; any lumps in breasts or underarm area; any redness or flaking; or any pain, please contact your physician and get it checked out.  

Mammograms for Your Mammary Glands!

Mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Most women who are 50 to 74 years old should have a screening mammogram every two years. If you are 40 to 49 years old, or think you may have a higher risk of breast cancer, ask your doctor when to have a screening mammogram.

Author

Rubina Zaman, DDS Dr. Zaman provides care for the entire family ranging in age from 3 months to 90 years old. To improve her skills and treatment options for her patients, Dr. Zaman regularly attends continuing education courses, especially in orthodontics and other teeth-straightening options such as Invisalign® and ClearConnect®. She enjoys watching her patients leave the office with a big, beautiful smile.