Avoid or limit alcohol
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day.
1 in 8 women in the United States is expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, but you can significantly affect the outcome. Learn about screening guidelines, prevention tips, risk factors, and symptoms to watch for so you can take an active role in your breast health.
Take our online breast cancer screening assessment to find out.
Breast cancer is sometimes found after symptoms appear, but many women with breast cancer have no symptoms which is why regular self-exams and breast cancer screenings are so important.
The following screening guidelines are for women at average risk for breast cancer.
(For screening purposes, a woman is considered to be at average risk if she does not have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer (such as in a BRCA gene), and has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30.)
If you’re considered higher risk, your doctor may recommend more frequent breast exams and/or to start having mammograms before age 40. If you have a family history, you may also be recommended for genetic cancer screening.
Limit the amount of alcohol you drink to no more than one drink a day.
Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.
Eat a diet high in plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
Talk with your doctor about your options to control your menopause symptoms.
Unfortunately, there are a number of important breast cancer risk factors that women have no control over.
Rochester Regional Health's Breast Center offers a comprehensive High-Risk Breast Cancer Screening Clinic to help women with a strong family and personal history of breast cancer learn about and mitigate their risk. For some individuals, a combination of these various risk factors could indicate that they might benefit from being closely followed through our program.
Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all. Some common symptoms to watch for include:
Please keep in mind that having any one of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. They can indicate other problems that need to be treated. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, the specialists at the Breast Center can help.