lcmh.com 15 You take good care of your health by eating right, exercising and reducing stress. But are you also having regular mammograms? If not, you could be overlooking a vital form of self-care. What is a mammogram? A mammogram is a low-dose breast x-ray. Medical experts say it is the most effective way to look for changes in the breasts that could eventually become cancerous. Mammograms can find signs of cancer years before symptoms—such as a lump, pain or nipple discharge—show up. When breast cancer is found early, it is often easier to treat. Women with breast cancer that is diagnosed in its early stages are: • Less likely to need aggressive treatments such as mastectomy. Mastectomy is the surgical removal of the breast. • Less likely to need chemotherapy. • More likely to be cured. Simply put, mammograms can save lives. Talk with your doctor about having regular mammograms starting at age 40. Time for a mammogram? Don’t skip this important screening • Weight. The link between weight and breast cancer risk is complex, but generally your risk goes up after menopause if you’re overweight. • Activity level. Regular exercise can reduce your risk for breast cancer, especially after menopause. • Reproductive history. Not having children, or having your first child after age 30, slightly raises your risk. Having many pregnancies and becoming pregnant at a younger age reduces your risk. • Choice to breastfeed. Breastfeeding may slightly lower breast cancer risk, especially if it continues for a year or more. • Birth control use. Some birth control methods use hormones, which might increase your risk. Screening is key Talk to your provider about regular mammograms starting at age 40. Three convenient locations to schedule your mammogram Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Breast Health Center 1701 Oak Park Blvd. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for Women Breast Health Center 1900 W. Gauthier Rd. Memorial Diagnostic Center–Moss Bluff 217 Sam Houston Jones Pkwy. Call to schedule today: 337-284-0772.
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