(by Vicki Lynn Gordy, a survivor of triple negative breast cancer)

ONE ~ Go to your smart phone calendar.  Type in “Breast Self-Check” and program your calendar to “repeat monthly.” (If you don’t have a smart phone, enter this monthly reminder on whatever calendar or reminder system you use.)

Early detection is key to beating breast cancer!  Most breast cancers are slow growing, but some grow very rapidly and can grow from being undetectable to a life-threatening size in-between annual tests.  So, in addition to routine medical screenings (physical exam by physician, mammograms, ultrasounds, etc.) – which are usually done annually at the most, increase your chances of early detection through monthly breast self-check.  For instructions, click here.

TWO ~ Find Out if You Have “Dense Breast Tissue” and What That Means … and Get Information on Other Risk Factors

If you are one of over 40% of women who have dense breast tissue, not only are you at a higher risk for breast cancer, but mammograms alone may not be able to detect early-stage breast cancer, and you may want to supplement your mammogram screening with an ultrasound or MRI.

Call your doctor and ask what your breast density level is.  (It is recorded on the radiology reports of almost all mammograms.)

“Women with high breast density (as seen on a mammogram) are four to five times more likely to get breast cancer than women with low breast density.” (komen.org)

Density levels range from 1-4 (4 being the most dense).  “Dense breast tissue” is generally considered levels 3 and 4 (both of which indicate there is more dense tissue than fatty tissue).  For more information click here.

THREE ~ Do what you CAN do to reduce your risk of breast cancer (and cancer in general)

Although the steps we take cannot eliminate all risks of cancer, there are some things we can do that have been proven to reduce cancer risks.  M D Anderson has some helpful information titled “Manage Your Risk.” Read it, and make any necessary changes to reduce your risk of cancer.