American Cancer Society Guidelines for Breast Cancer

• Monthly breast self-examination; notify the physician immediately if a lump or bloody discharge is detected.
• For women 20-40, breast exam by a health professional every 3 years; for women 40 and over, every year. 

• Screening mammography for women beginning by age 40, for women aged 40-49, every 1-2 years; and for women aged 50 and over, every year.

Risk Factors

• Women who have breast cancer have a 5 times greater chance of developing breast cancer in the opposite breast.

• Women whose mother or sisters had premenopausal breast cancer have 2-3 times the normal risk.

• Hormonal history: Early periods (before the age of 12) or late menopause (after the age of 50). The longer the menstrual history the greater the risk.

• First child after the age of 30.

• Family or personal history of ovarian, uterine, or colon cancer.

• Women who are overweight have a greater risk.

Mammography

• Premenopausal women should schedule their mammogram a week after the start of their menstruation.

• The day of the procedure avoid the use of perfume, talc, or deodorant and antiperspirants. These may interfere with the mammogram.

• Thirty minutes prior to the procedure, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen if procedure causes discomfort.

Breast Self Exam (BSE)

• BSE should be performed monthly beginning at the age of 20.
• Premenopausal women should schedule their BSE a week after the start of the menstruation.
• Postmenopausal women should identify a particular date every month on which to do BSE.