Healthy Habits Help Avoid Breast Cancer
Take these habits to heart to reduce your risk of breast cancer.
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Fitness First
- Eat Fresh
- Be smoke free
- Keep alcoholic drinks at a minimum
Detecting Breast Cancer Early
Your physician has the ability to detect early breast cancer symptoms before you can detect them. It is important to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. Remember to complete breast self-exams and schedule clinical breast exams and mammograms.
Self-exams
Early detection of breast cancer can involve finding a lump or noticing changes in your breast tissue/skin around your breast. If you find a lump or notice something out of the ordinary, contact your physician immediately to have it checked. Your CHI Medical Plan covers your annual mammogram and well check.
If you find a lump, it does not automatically mean that it is cancerous. However, it is essential to make an immediate appointment with your physician to have it checked out.
Find a CHI St. Vincent Breast Center at chistvincent.com/breast
Clinical Breast Exam
This exam is performed by a health care professional, most likely your family physician or gynecologist at your annual exam. During this exam, your physician will check for differences in size between your breasts, rash, dimpling or any other abnormality. Women who are under 40 are encouraged to have clinical breast exams every three years.
Mammograms
Screening mammograms can help screen for breast cancer in a woman who shows no symptoms, and diagnostic mammograms can detect breast cancer when a woman is showing symptoms. While mammograms require a very small dose of radiation, the risk from exposure to this radiation is very low.
Women age 40 and older, should have a mammogram and clinical breast exam each year.
Waiting for Results?
If a tumor has been detected, waiting for results can be nerve-wracking. What is important to remember is that most cancerous tumors are treatable. Plus, research is continually providing innovative options to help treat cancer.
If you or someone you know is dealing with cancer, our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), offers counseling and support that can help you work through the stresses and emotions that can accompany difficult times. If you would like to speak with a licensed counselor, call 877-679-3819 or contact the HR/Payroll Connection Support Center at 844-450-9450.
Your health is about more than routine trips to your doctor – it’s about the small everyday choices you make. Those small choices can add up and make a big difference on your overall health. For helpful wellness tips and info on how to easily redeem your wellness rewards, visit onespiritblog.com/wellness.