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It is
natural to be concerned if you have found a lump in your breast. But 80% of
all breast lumps are benign, which means no cancer is present. After
reading this page, you will know more about the normal changes that can occur
in a woman's breasts. And you will learn what to do if you find a lump
or other change in your breast. Most
lumps are found by women themselves, either through regular breast self-exam
or just by accident. Others are discovered during routine breast exams
by a health professional and through mammograms, special X-rays of the breast. About
20% of breast lumps are malignant (cancerous). However, if cancer is
found at an early stage and treated promptly, the outlook is good. In
fact, 85 to 95 percent of women with early breast cancer will be alive 5 years
after diagnosis. Most of them will be free of breast cancer for the rest
of their lives. It is normal
to be afraid when you find a lump in your breast. But don't let fear
stop you from seeing a doctor right away if you think something is
wrong. You will feel more confident about finding a breast lump early
by:
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Having regular mammograms.
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Having a regular breast exam
by a health professional.
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Doing a monthly breast
self-exam (BSE) - as illustrated in this website.
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