Breast Health Is a Year-Round Priority

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and while it’s important to pay attention to breast health this month, it’s just as important to listen to your body and understand the warning signs of cancer every day of the year. Read on to find out how you can make breast health a priority all year long.

Breast health begins with understanding how your body feels to you. The more familiar you are with what’s normal for your breasts, the easier it will become for you to spot any potential concerns. Your breasts may change in sensitivity or texture over time due to age, menstrual cycles, or any other number of hormonal or environmental factors. Regular self-examinations can help you stay acquainted with your breasts and what they feel like, equipping you with the necessary benchmark information to identify a problem area, should one arise.

If you find a lump, don’t panic. There are a number of different things that could develop in your breasts that aren’t cancerous, such as cysts or fibroadenomas, which are small, noncancerous tumors that typically form in young women. 

If you’re concerned with something you feel, a breast exam from your healthcare provider is a great starting place. If your physician or nurse practitioner identifies the same problem area as you, they may refer you to get a mammogram or—if you have dense breast tissue that might make a lump harder to identify—an ultrasound or MRI. Imaging provided by Gateway Hancock Health is quick, easy, and affordable, giving you peace of mind while our experts diagnose the problem. 

A radiologist will determine whether a biopsy would be required, and Hancock Health specialists will get to work quickly on identifying and diagnosing the abnormal tissue.

If our specialists find a malignant tumor, you can take comfort in the knowledge that Hancock Health’s experienced cancer team will support you through every step of your treatment and recovery.

Backed by Mayo Clinic knowledge, the experts at our Sue Ann Wortman Cancer Center offer everything from radiation therapy to chemotherapy to surgery. Working with state-of-the-art technology, we’ll do everything we can to help you live with cancer—until you’re living without it.