October marks the annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although this event and the accompanying campaigns have raised awareness of the disease, it is important to remember breast cancer year-round. Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, second only to skin cancer. Early detection, new treatments and a better understanding of the disease have led to significant improvements in the survival rate.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer
The first sign of breast cancer is an irregular lump or change in the consistency of the breast tissue. Other symptoms may also develop:

• Bloody discharge from the nipple
• Change in the appearance of skin on the breast, such as reddening or pitting
• Change in the overall size or shape of the breast
• Flaking or peeling of the skin on the nipple
• Nipple inversion where it did not occur before

Even if a woman has had a clear mammogram recently, these symptoms necessitate an immediate visit to the doctor.

Diagnosing Breast Cancer
The key to surviving breast cancer is early detection. Women generally include breast cancer screenings as a regular part of their annual medical testing. The first step is a clinical breast examination, where the doctor or nurse practitioner visually and manually checks for lumps or abnormalities. Most women do this at their annual gynecological check-up. During a mammography visit, the technician may repeat the clinical exam.

Regular mammograms remain the most effective way to detect breast cancer. Recent studies have shown that digital mammography is more accurate than traditional mammograms; check with your hospital or radiology center to find out if that is an option. These annual preventative mammograms usually give two standard views of the breasts and illustrate any calcium deposits, which can indicate the presence of a tumor or other mass.

If an abnormality is found, the doctor may order a diagnostic mammogram. Taken at a higher magnification, a diagnostic mammogram includes more views of the breast. For women under 30, the doctor may order an ultrasound. Since younger women have denser breast tissue, an ultrasound gives a clearer picture of the tissue. Depending on the results of the mammogram, the doctor may recommend further testing. These tests may include a fine needle aspiration (FNA), a biopsy or a lumpectomy.

Women can help prevent breast cancer by remembering that breast cancer isn’t a once-a-year disease. Just as an annual awareness month certainly helps, a once-yearly mammogram does give some protection. But neither measure is enough; women should routinely check themselves for breast cancer symptoms year-round.