Posted: October 16, 2015 Contributor: PRJKT RUBY

5 Things You Should Know About Breast Cancer

This year alone, it’s estimated that nearly 10,000 women under the age of 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer. It’s also the leading cause of cancer death among young women ages 15 to 34.

While no one can make themselves immune, there are several things you can do to reduce your risk or at least catch breast cancer early enough for successful treatment.

Here are 5 things you should know about breast cancer:

1. Get to Know Your Breasts Well…It Could Save Your Life
   Knowing what your breasts feel like every month is important for spotting any abnormalities. It’s normal to have slight changes throughout the month as you go through your cycle, but be sure to conduct monthly breast exam checks on yourself so you can feel any bumps, lumps of anything out of the ordinary.
2. Breast Size is Irrelevant to Cancer Risk 
   Many women may think they are safe if they have smaller breasts. This simply isn’t the case. You can develop breast cancer no matter your breast size. Detection in smaller breasts, however, may be slightly easier only because the cancer would be closer to the surface of the skin. Regardless of your breast size, it’s important to stay vigilant.
3. It’s Normal to Show No Symptoms 
   This is one of the scary things about breast cancer. Your body may already be very sick but you might not notice any symptoms that would trigger you to head to the doctor’s for a check-up. Often a cancerous lump or mass in the breast will be painless. This is why mammograms and routine self checks are so important.
4. There is No One Type of Treatment
   One thing we have learned about breast cancer treatment is that there is no one singular way to do it. While we most commonly hear about mastectomies, they won’t work for every woman. Early detection and great medical care will lead to an individual treatment plan for your situation.
5.  Be Persistent if You Think Something is Wrong
   Remember that you know your body better than anyone else. If you feel that something is not right, don’t let it be dismissed because you are “too young” or “in great shape.” There are many reasons that a doctor might cast your complaints away, so be sure to be persistent if you strongly feel something isn’t right with your body.