Breast cancer is a disease that affects millions of women and men worldwide. As a breast cancer surgeon at Arizona Oncology — and a survivor of the disease myself — here are five essential things you should know about breast cancer.
1. Early detection is key
Finding breast cancer at an earlier stage sets you up for the best outcomes and may allow you to skip more aggressive treatments. The best way to find early breast cancer is through regular mammograms. For most women, you should start yearly mammograms at age 40. If you have a family history of breast cancer at an early age or if you have a genetic mutation that puts you at high risk for breast cancer, you should discuss this with your doctor as you may need to begin imaging sooner. Recent studies suggest that this is particularly important for Black women who are at higher risk of getting more aggressive breast cancers at a younger age.