Breast cancer kills more than 40,000 women a year in the United States. As women age, the risk of breast cancer increases. Breast cancer risk is greater in women who:
- Smoke
- Eat unhealthy foods
- Are overweight
- Have a history of breast cancer in their family
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is an X-ray-like picture of the breast tissue that lets doctors “see” if there have been changes that could be cancer or could become cancer. It is important for younger women—age 18 to 39—to also have their breasts checked by a doctor at least once a year during a clinical breast examination. This is usually performed by a doctor during an annual health care checkup.
