Breast Cancer Awareness & Prevention
More than 99% of all breast cancers occur in women, but men can get breast cancer as well.
Early detection of breast cancer significantly improves the chances of surviving the disease by finding the cancer when it is easier to treat.
If you are 50 to 74 years old, you should have a mammogram screening every two years. If you are 40 to 49 years old, talk to your healthcare provider about when to start and how often to get a mammogram.
Many factors affect your risk of breast cancer, some of which you have no control over. However, there are some things you can do to help lower your risk of breast cancer.
- Keep a healthy weight
- Exercise regularly
- Get enough sleep
- If you drink alcohol, limit alcoholic drinks to no more than one a day
- Avoid exposure to chemicals that can cause cancer
- Breast-feed your babies
Remember: women with high risk profiles account for one third of all cases of breast cancers; the majority of women have no identifiable risk factors.
If you are between 40 and 64 years of age and have a low income or limited to no health insurance, you may qualify for a free mammogram through the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program at Buncombe County Health and Human Services.
Visit www.buncombecounty.org/Governing/Depts/Health/Bcccp.aspx to learn more.
