Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.
We're talking about managing your health this week on Healthwatch. One thing women need to do to protect their health is get the kind of regular check-ups that can detect breast cancer in its earliest stages.
Dr. Phil Evans, director of the Center for Breast Care at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, says the key to early detection is annual mammograms and regular self exams. Women should start getting annual mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer or had chest X-rays for Hodgkin's disease when you were younger, you should talk to your doctor about starting regular mammograms earlier.
You can get information on free or reduced-cost mammograms through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at
www.komen.org.
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November 2005
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