Breast Cancer Tips

Advice on Breast Cancer Screening

Recommended Frequency for Breast Cancer Screening

Beginning in their twenties, all women should conduct a monthly breast self-exam. A clinical exam is performed by your doctor, and should be done every two to three years when you're in your twenties and thirties, and every year when you're over 40. Be sure to keep your yearly GYN appointments for Pap smears and pelvic exams. Yearly mammograms usually begin in your forties, because younger breasts can be too dense and fibrous to reveal abnormalities. Your health or family history may dictate a slightly different schedule, so be sure to follow your doctor's recommendations for screening. If you are under 40 and are concerned that you are a high risk for breast cancer, talk to your doctor about alternatives for detection, like an MRI.