Breast Care

As you age, it is important to take care of your breasts so that you can prevent diseases and even cancer. It’s important to examine your breasts regularly so that you can notice if changes are happening. Breast changes are common and most of them are not caused by cancer. You should tell your healthcare provider as soon as possible if you notice:

• A lump or lumps in one or both breasts
• Pain or tenderness
• Fluid leaking from a nipple (when you’re not making milk for breastfeeding)
• A nipple starts pulling in instead of poking out (becomes inverted)
• The skin of a breast changes (such as turning red or puckered)

Most breast changes are not serious. Some might be caused by hormonal changes. You can also get infections and other diseases in your breasts that are not cancer. It’s important to have your healthcare provider examine you if you notice any breast changes to see if treatment is needed. Sometimes your provider can find out what’s causing breast changes during a normal exam. Other times your provider may need to order more tests or send you to a specialist.