Healthy Living Q&A

Breast cancer prevention starts early

Q: At what age should women begin breast exams and mammograms for cancer detection?

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"Starting in your early 20s, you should self-examine your breasts every month, looking for lumps, changes in skin texture, unusual tenderness or discharge," says Kristin Laporte, M.D., a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic. "Though the risk of breast cancer increases as we grow older, it's important to realize that breast cancer can occur at almost any age."

Dr. Laporte recommends women between the ages of 20 and 39 have a clinical breast exam performed by a doctor at least once a year.

"I recommend women between ages 40 and 74 have a yearly clinical breast exam and a mammogram," she says. "Women 75 and older should consult with their physician about their need for a mammogram."

Mammograms - low-dose X-ray exposures that help detect breast cancer in the early stages - are available at Kelsey-Seybold's Clear Lake Clinic, Fort Bend Medical and Diagnostic Center, Main Campus, Spring Medical and Diagnostic Center, West Clinic, The Vintage, Woman's Center and The Woodlands Clinic locations.

Dr. Laporte advises women at an increased risk due to a family history of breast cancer to consult with their doctor about scheduling more frequent screenings.

"Early detection is a potent defensive weapon in fighting breast cancer," concludes Dr. Laporte, who cares for patients at Kelsey-Seybold's Clear Lake Medical Center in Webster and Silverlake Clinic in Pearland.