Understanding the signs and symptoms of cancer, scheduling regular mammograms, and performing self-breast exams are the building blocks for prevention, early detection, and successful treatment of breast cancer. The Board Certified team at Pali Women’s Health Center in Kailua and Kapolei, Hawaii, promotes breast cancer prevention and provides proactive breast cancer screening services.
Many patients are diagnosed with breast cancer before ever experiencing unusual signs or symptoms. When symptoms do exist, they may include:
Patients who notice breast changes or suspect breast cancer should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to screen for cancer.
Breast self-exams (BSE) should be performed at least 1 time a month. It’s best to perform BSEs at the same time every month. For women who menstruate, the best time is upon conclusion of their menstrual cycle. For women who don’t menstruate, any day suffices as long as it consistent from 1 month to the next.
Mammograms are recommended once per year for women age 45 and older. In some cases, doctors may recommend a mammogram sooner. More specifically, doctors may recommend a mammogram when there is cause for concern or the patient is at increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Although risk factors have been identified, the causes of breast cancer remain unknown. Ongoing support of research is critical in identifying the causes of breast cancer so that treatments and means of prevention can be developed.
A myriad of factors may influence a woman’s probability of developing breast cancer, including:
Despite this extensive list of risk factors, the majority of women who develop cancer have none of these risk factors, while others — perhaps with multiple risk factors — never develop cancer.
Check out this website:
https://www.adventisthealth.org/castle/services/imaging-services/mammography/
We accept most insurances. Please call the office for any questions regarding insurance!