Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

Cancer & Women

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is diagnosed in more than 178,000 American women each year and claims more than 40,000 lives. It is the most common type of cancer among women.

What you can do:

• Have yearly mammograms, starting at age 40.
• Include clinical breast exam as part of a periodic health exam, at least every three years in your 20s and 30s, and every year at age 40 and over.
• Report any breast change to your doctor without delay. Self breast exam is an option starting in your 20s – talk to your doctor or health professional about the right way to do it.
• Women at higher risk because of family history or other reasons should talk with their doctors about benefits of starting screening earlier or adding other tests such as breast ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

See also:

• Breast Cancer: The VICC.ORG Directory of Cancers,Treatments, Services & Resources
• The Vanderbilt Breast Center
• The Family Cancer Risk Service, including information on Hereditary Breast Cancer
• After Breast Cancer (ABC) Program
• American Cancer Society
• American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Support Group
• American Society of Clinical Oncology
• Association of Cancer Online Resources
• Breast Cancer Network of Strength
• BreastCancerTrials.org
• Gilda's Club Nashville
• Hope Connection
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer
• Patient and Family Resource Center
• Prevent Cancer Foundation
• Sisters Network
• Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
• Tennessee Breast Cancer Coalition
• Vanderbilt Center for Integrative Health
• Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center REACH for Survivorship Program
• VICC Family Cancer Risk Service
• Wellness Community