Caring for your breast health starts with awareness, recommended screening, and getting changes checked. Regular screening can help find breast cancer before symptoms appear, when treatment is more likely to be successful. American Cancer Society
1. Get familiar with your normal
Notice how your breasts usually look and feel during everyday activities, such as dressing or showering. There is no single “normal”—breasts can change with your menstrual cycle, age, pregnancy, and medications. Breast awareness does not replace mammograms. CDC
2. Know which changes to report
Contact a healthcare professional promptly if you notice:
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A new lump in your breast or underarm.
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New thickening, swelling, or changes in breast size or shape.
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Skin dimpling, redness, or flaky skin.
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A nipple that newly turns inward.
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Nipple discharge other than breast milk, especially blood.
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New or persistent breast or nipple pain.
These changes can have causes other than cancer, but they deserve medical attention. Don’t wait for your next screening appointment to report them. CDC
3. Make a screening plan
For women at average risk in the United States, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a mammogram every two years from ages 40 through 74. Other organizations recommend different schedules, so discuss your age, risk factors, and preferences with your clinician. After age 74, ask about an individualized plan. USPSTF
4. Talk about your personal risk
Share your family cancer history, known inherited gene changes such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, and any previous radiation treatment to the chest. Some people at high risk need earlier screening and a yearly breast MRI alongside mammography. Ask which plan fits you. American Cancer Society
5. Support your health with everyday habits
Stay physically active, maintain a healthy weight, and limit or avoid alcohol. If you use hormone replacement therapy, discuss its benefits and risks with your clinician. These choices may help lower breast cancer risk, but they cannot prevent every case or detect cancer. Screening and follow-up still matter. CDC
6. Follow through on results
After a mammogram, make sure you receive and understand your results. If additional imaging or a biopsy is recommended, arrange the follow-up with your care team. Report a new breast change even if your recent mammogram was normal. American Cancer Society
Your next step: Check when your next screening is due, write down your family history, and book an appointment for any new breast changes.
This article provides general education. Screening recommendations here are U.S.-based; your healthcare professional can help tailor them to your needs.