According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Fortunately, thanks to increased awareness and promising new tests and treatments, survival rates are on the rise.

The Norton Healthcare Breast Health Program is here to serve women in Louisville, Southern Indiana and the surrounding region. We offer a full range of breast cancer diagnostic screenings and support services — providing personalized guidance to women with an increased risk of the disease.

Learn more about breast cancer below, including the signs, symptoms and risk factors. To make an appointment with a skilled specialist, call (502) 629-HOPE (4673).

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

According to the American Cancer Society, common risk factors for developing breast cancer include:

• Age: Women 50 and older
• No children: Women with no children or those who had a child after age 30
• Menstrual periods: Beginning menstruation before age 12 or beginning menopause after age 50
• Hormones: Hormones naturally produced or taken for birth control or hormone replacement therapy to reduce the effects of menopause
• Family history: History of breast cancer on either parent’s side of the family
• Race: White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than women of other races; African American women are more likely to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

Other risks factors may include:

• Personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Obesity
• High-fat diet
• Inherited gene mutation
• Excessive alcohol use
• Previous radiation

Breast Cancer Prevention

Preventing breast cancer begins with living a healthy lifestyle. While some risk factors, including a family history of breast cancer, cannot be changed, the following lifestyle changes can help reduce your risk:

• Limit alcohol intake.
• Don’t smoke.
• Use caution when considering hormone replacement therapy.
• Exercise 30 minutes a day, six days a week.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Pay attention to changes in your breast, such as lumps, bumps or skin changes.

Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer

The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast or underarm area. Sometimes breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes even before the original tumor is large enough to be felt. Other symptoms may include:

• Any changes in the texture of breast tissue
• Changes in the size of the breast
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly

Remember, 80% of all detected breast lumps are not cancerous and present no health risk. If you find a breast lump, contact your primary care physician or gynecologist for a complete evaluation.

Breast Cancer Detection

Because a mammogram can detect the disease in its early stages, it is your best defense against breast cancer.

The Norton Healthcare Breast Health Program offers advanced, up-to-date breast screening technologies for breast cancer screenings. To schedule your mammogram, call (502) 485-4700 or visit NortonHealthcare.com/Mammography.

If you don’t know which type of mammogram is best for you, or if it’s possible you are pregnant, call (502) 259-7465 to speak with a breast health navigator.