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This is Doctor Christy Lethert, an oncologist from Kaiser Permanente San Diego with a message about the importance of breast cancer screenings. Approximately one out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States this year and it remains the second leading cause of death.
Your best defense against breast cancer is early detection. Breast cancer is most treatable when found early. That's why it's important to get screened. A mammogram is recommended for all women starting between the ages of 40 to 50, and then every one to two years thereafter. Women with a family history of breast cancer should start getting screened at an earlier age. Adopting a healthy lifestyle like staying away from tobacco, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can also help reduce your chance of getting breast cancer.
Talk to your personal physician about when the best time is for you to start getting screened. For more information, visit us at kp.org/sandiego.