Busy women are experts at taking care of everyone else. October is a good reminder to put yourself on the list, too.
1. Know what's normal for you
Breasts change with cycles, pregnancy and age. Becoming familiar with how yours usually look and feel makes it easier to notice something new — a lump, skin dimpling, nipple changes or discharge, or persistent pain in one spot.
2. Know your risk
Age is the biggest risk factor, but family history, genetics, dense breast tissue, previous chest radiation and some hormone therapies matter too. Talk with your provider about your personal risk and when to start screening.
3. Early detection changes outcomes
When breast cancer is found early, before it spreads, the five-year survival rate is above 99%. Regular mammograms find many cancers before they can be felt.
4. Make screening easy to remember
- Book your mammogram around a date you already celebrate — your birthday works.
- Schedule your next one before you leave the current appointment.
- Bring a friend and make a morning of it with coffee at the Coffee Cure.
If a mammogram comes back abnormal, try not to panic — most callbacks are not cancer. Your care team will walk you through next steps, often additional images or an ultrasound.
SRMC offers mammography in our Radiology department and gynecologic care in our Specialty Clinic. Call 308-254-5068 to schedule imaging.
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Radiology & Imaging
