Breast cancer: Early detection is the best protection


Both men and women should stay on top of risk factors, family health history and regular exams.

Open palms cup a children's open palms which hold a pink breast cancer awareness ribbonIt's likely that at some point in your life breast cancer will touch you, if not personally then through your connections with family and friends. That's because it's the second most common form of cancer in women according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And it affects men, too.

The good news is that early detection has a positive impact on surviving the disease. Knowing the risk factors and your family health history and keeping up with regular screenings can give you peace of mind and help you catch breast cancer early.

Understand your risk factors first

Educating yourself about the risk factors associated with breast cancer allows you to be more proactive about symptoms.

Risk factors you can affect:

  • Weight
  • Diet
  • Exercise
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Smoking
  • Exposure to estrogen and/or progesterone (e.g., through hormone replacement therapy or use of hormonal contraceptives)

Factors out of your control:

  • Gender: While women are at a greater risk for breast cancer, men can get it too.
  • Age: The older you are, the higher your risk factor. Most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.
  • Family history: If a first-degree relative had breast cancer or ovarian cancer, you may be at a greater risk for getting it.
  • Race: Caucasian women are slightly more likely to contract the disease than women of other races.
  • Personal history: If you've been diagnosed with breast cancer already, your risk of getting it again goes up.
  • Previous treatment using radiation therapy to the chest or breasts (for instance, treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before age 30
  • For women: Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), or if one’s mother took DES while pregnant with them
  • For women: Dense breast tissue, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after 55), having children later in life or never having had children, or genetic mutations (BRCA1 or BRCA2) all increase risk.
  • For men: Klinefelter Syndrome, liver disease, testicular conditions or genetic mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK2 or PTEN) all may increase risk.

Regardless of the risks, it's wise to talk to your doctor about lifestyle choices that can lower your risk of getting cancer.

Take charge of your breast health

Detecting breast cancer early reduces your risk of dying from the disease.

For women, a mammogram is the best way to find cancer even before symptoms appear. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends women at average risk of breast cancer begin getting mammograms at age 40. Women in a high-risk category may start at an earlier age. See covered preventive services.

Since early detection is the best protection, most Asuris health plans cover annual in-network preventive mammograms at 100 percent.

We also offer other tools and programs to help you be proactive about your health, including:

  • Find a doctor: Schedule your annual breast exam or mammogram with a provider in your network.
  • Cost estimator: Shop around and compare your out-of-pocket costs for a mammogram, based on your health benefits.
  • Guidance and support: If you're diagnosed with breast cancer, contact us and we'll connect you with helpful resources available through your benefits.

Find support

Whether you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, or you want to learn more about the disease or help raise awareness, there are plenty of resources available. The following are a few organizations to consider: