6 Signs of PCOS Every Woman Should Know
When a condition affects 10% of reproductive-aged women around the world, it’s a condition that women should know about. We’re talking about polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, and here are some key signs.
Mammograms: A Proactive Approach to Your Breast Health
October is the month when you might see a little more pink than usual, thanks to education and awareness efforts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. These efforts are more than warranted, given that women have a one in eight chance of developing this serious disease.
In 2025, nearly 317,000 new diagnoses of breast cancer will be made in the United States by the end of the year, and more than 42,000 women will die of breast cancer.
One of the best ways to stay proactive when it comes to breast cancer is through regular mammogram screening, which the team at Beyond Women’s Care dives into below.
An earlier mammogram start
The recommendations for starting mammogram screening for women of average risk (more on risk factors below) have been lowered from 50 to 40 as more younger women are being diagnosed with breast cancer. (A mammogram is a specialized X-ray of your breasts.)
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammograms every two years, starting at age 40, until age 74.
The American Cancer Society veers slightly from these recommendations and puts forth these guidelines for breast cancer screening:
- Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start yearly mammogram screenings.
- Women between 45 and 54 should screen every year.
- Women 55 and older can choose to screen every year or every other year.
We’ve been referring to screening as a mammogram, but for women with dense breast tissue, screening may also include other imaging, such as MRI and ultrasound — all of which are noninvasive.
Understanding your risks for breast cancer
The mammogram screening recommendations we just reviewed are for women of normal risk. If you have factors that place you at higher risk for breast cancer, we may have to increase your screening schedule. These risks include:
- Carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
- Having a close family member with breast or ovarian cancer
- A personal history of breast cancer
- Previous radiation to your chest under the age of 30
- Starting your period before the age of 12
- Entering menopause after the age of 55
If any of the above apply to you, we can sit down with you to design an appropriate breast cancer screening schedule.
Mitigating your lifestyle risks for breast cancer
Though mammogram screening is a great way to detect early breast cancer, there are other ways that you can stay one step ahead of the disease. For example, certain lifestyle factors may increase your chances of breast cancer, such as:
- Carrying too much weight, especially after menopause
- Leading a sedentary lifestyle
- Drinking too much alcohol
So, if you really want to get proactive with breast cancer and your overall health, these are good areas to improve.
Getting back to your proactive approach for breast cancer screening, a great place to start is to see us for a thorough risk evaluation. To set that up, please call our Rochester Hills, Michigan, office at 248-284-4859 or contact us through our website.
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