If you have a low income or lack insurance and are between the ages of 40 and 64, you may qualify for a free or low-cost clinical breast exam and mammogram.

For information about the DeKalb County Board of Health’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, visit this link or call 404-294-3700.

About Breast Cancer

Cancer that starts in the breast is called breast cancer. Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women.

Some risk factors for breast cancer are:

• Having your first menstrual period before age 12.
• Never giving birth or being older when your first child is born.
• Taking birth control pills.
• Having a personal history of breast cancer, dense breasts or some other breast problems.
• Having a family history of breast cancer (parent, sibling or child).
• Being overweight, especially after menopause.
• Starting menopause after age 55.
• Taking hormones for more than five years during menopause to replace missing estrogen and progesterone.
• Getting radiation therapy to the breast or chest.
• Experiencing changes in breast cancer-related genes (BRCA1 or BRCA2).

Some warning signs of breast cancer are:

• New lump in the breast or armpit.
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
• Any change in the size or shape of the breast.
• Pain in the breast.
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
• Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, such as blood.

Source:  http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/pdf/BreastCancerFactSheet.pdf