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Mor a Hpita 5 CRHEALTHCARE.ORG Can You Prevent Breast Cancer? Early detection of cancer is vital for your health—but what can you do to actually prevent cancer from happening? While there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, there are several lifestyle changes that could help. Only drink alcohol in moderation— women who have three alcoholic beverages a week have a 15 percent higher risk of cancer than women who don't drink at all, and the risk increases another 10 percent with each drink per day past that. Regular exercise can also decrease your risk. Tobacco is linked to higher rates of breast cancer in young, premenopausal women. If you smoke, quit; and if you don't smoke, don't start. WHY SHOULD I KNOW MY BREAST DENSITY? "Women with category C or D breast density have a higher chance of malignancy," says Demir Bastug, MD, radiologist with Columbus Regional Healthcare System. "This may be because cancers are harder to see on imaging tests in women with dense breast tissue, or there may be something about the dense tissue itself that increases your risk." Women with dense breasts are up to six times more likely to develop cancer. WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO TO PREVENT BREAST CANCER IF I HAVE DENSE BREASTS? Because breast cancer in dense tissue can be difficult to detect via mammogram, it's recommended to have follow-up testing. At CRHS, we have three-dimensional automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) available the same day as an annual mammogram. The ABUS procedure is quick and painless, with no compression required. It only takes 52 seconds per breast to take images. To learn more about our imaging capabilities, visit www.crhealthcare.org/services/imaging-services. ? ? ? Early Detection, Better Survival When breast cancer is detected at an early stage—before it spreads throughout the breast or other parts of the body—it's easier to treat. The five-year survival rate for stage 0 and stage 1 breast cancer is almost 100 percent. The American Cancer Society recommends the following for your best chances at early protection: • Know your risk factors. Many women are of average risk. However, a family history of breast cancer, known genetic mutation, dense breast tissue or previous radiation therapy can increase your risk. Talk to your doctor about evaluating your chances of getting breast cancer within your lifetime. • Know your breasts. Although breast self-exams and clinical exams are no longer recommended, you should still be familiar with what is normal for your body. Any changes, including dimpling, lumps or changes in size, should be reported to your healthcare provider right away. • Know when to go. Women of average risk should start annual screening mammograms by age 40 and continue with annual screenings as long as they are in good health. HOW CAN I KNOW MY BREAST DENSITY? You cannot tell your breast density by looking at or feeling your breasts—the only way to know your breast density is through a mammogram. By North Carolina state law, all healthcare facilities that perform mammography must identify the patient's breast density level. "At CRHS, we use software that automatically grades breast density from a mammogram," Dr. Bastug says. "Called VolparaDensity TM , this software looks at the raw data and provides a reliable density grade." Before a woman leaves the mammography suite at CRHS, she knows what her breast density grade is.