What to expect during your first mammogram

Conditions
October 14, 2012

Getting your first mammogram can be stressful. After all, it’s your first one, so you don’t know exactly what to expect.

Rest assured: even women getting their second or third mammogram may have concerns.

But by learning how to prepare for and what to expect from this important cancer screening exam, you can eliminate some of the guesswork. And, that can make your experience less nerve-wracking.

Here’s what you should know.

Mammograms save lives

Don’t …

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What to expect during your first mammogram

5 ways to cut breast cancer risk

Conditions
October 7, 2011

Breast cancer may be the most common cancer among women. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t do something to help prevent it.

Researchers have found certain risk factors that increase a woman’s chances of getting breast cancer. We can’t change some of these factors, like age or race. But we can try to control others, like weight gain and alcohol use.

And, taking responsibility for the things you can control may …

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5 ways to cut breast cancer risk

5 important cancer prevention updates

Conditions
June 7, 2011

Most people agree — the best way to beat cancer is to prevent it. What can we do as a nation to help people live healthier lives today so they can avoid cancer tomorrow?

Major research findings and policy changes are steps in the right direction. Here are some important cancer prevention milestones we’ve reached in the past year.

1. Lung cancer screening is now a reality for selected patients

Smoking causes …

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5 important cancer prevention updates

Menopause and cancer: What women should know

Conditions
January 21, 2011

Menopause often brings more than physical changes. It also may bring uncertainty about cancer risks and cancer prevention.

Below, I’ve compiled some of the questions I frequently hear from patients about menopause and cancer. I hope these answers will help other women start informed conversations with their doctors about menopause-related concerns.

How does menopause affect a woman’s cancer risk?

Menopause does not cause cancer. But your risk of developing cancer increases …

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Menopause and cancer: What women should know

Breast cancer and understanding your breast type

Conditions
October 15, 2010

What does your breast type say about your cancer risk? Quite a bit, actually.

Whether you have large, small or lumpy breasts, self-awareness is very important. Getting to know how your breasts look and feel can help you recognize possible red flags.

Large vs. small breasts

When it comes to cancer risk, size really doesn’t matter. But, size can affect your mammogram and clinical breast exam.

For example, women with large breasts may need …

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Breast cancer and understanding your breast type

Lifestyle tips for aging family members

Patient
June 26, 2010

Thanks to modern medicine, more people are living longer, but a longer life isn’t always a healthier one. According to the American Cancer Society, about 77 percent of people diagnosed with cancer are 55 or older.

Living a healthy lifestyle is important to reducing cancer risks. But as we age, it’s sometimes easy to forget the importance of exercise, proper nutrition and stress management, which is why I like to solicit …

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Lifestyle tips for aging family members