Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed each October, but women should be especially aware of the devastating consequences of this disease and be aware of their breast health year-round.
Are you at risk? Each year an estimated 200,000 American women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women. Do you know if you are at risk? Learn what the risk factors are. If you have any of them, take steps to maintain your breast health. Keep in mind that some women with risk factors for breast cancer never develop the disease.
Practice a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy, exercise regularly, limit your alcohol intake and don't smoke. Not only will these behaviors help decrease your cancer risk, they will help improve your health overall. So please take care of yourself.
Take action. See your doctor as soon as you find any lump in your breast. Also see your doctor if you notice a clear or bloody discharge from the nipple, scaling or sores on the skin of the breast or the nipple, a nipple that inverts, dimpling on the breast skin or a change in the contour of one breast compared with the other. Each of these signs may be an indication that there is a problem, so don't ignore any change in your breasts.
| 
