How Much Do You Know About Breast Cancer? | AFC Urgent Care Memphis

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, on average, every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer. This type of cancer affects one in eight women during their lifetime.

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Memphis wants to offer some information about breast cancer and how you can protect your health.

Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk

Read on for a look at some ways you can decrease your chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

If you have a baby or plan to have a baby, think about breastfeeding if you’re able. Multiple studies have shown that breastfeeding can help lower your risk of breast cancer.

Living a healthy lifestyle can help greatly reduce the risk of many medical conditions—and breast cancer is no exception. Get regular exercise, eat a healthy diet, don’t smoke, limit your alcohol consumption and try to manage your stress levels. These healthy habits can not only help you prevent breast cancer, but if you’re diagnosed, they can help you cope with the effects of treatment.

If you’re experiencing menopause symptoms, your doctor may have recommended hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. Some types of HRT, specifically those that use both estrogen and progestin, have been shown to increase the risk of breast cancer. However, that risk returns to normal within five years after use. So talk with your doctor about what’s right for you and your specific circumstances.

Early Detection Is Key

Breast cancer, like many forms of cancer, is most treatable in the earliest stages of the disease. In fact, the 5-year survival rate for those diagnosed with stages 0 to II breast cancer is more than 90 percent.

That’s why it’s so important to obtain age-appropriate screenings that can help find cancer in its earliest stages.

You’re probably familiar with mammograms, but there’s been so much talk about when they’re needed that you may be confused. Guidelines differ between organizations. The American Cancer Society recommends that women get annual mammograms beginning at age 45. However, your doctor may recommend beginning mammograms earlier or having them at a different frequency than national guidelines.

That’s especially true in the case that you have immediate family members and extended family who have had breast cancer. It’s important to talk to your physician about your family history, as this could change the course of screening. For example, your doctor may recommend that you receive an MRI in addition to your mammogram, or if breast cancer is particularly common in your family, that you undergo testing to see if you have the BRCA gene mutations.

Our urgent care center provides medical services for those age 6 and older. Visit the AFC Urgent Care Memphis website today to learn how we can help care for the health of your family.