Breast Health
Legislative Advocacy
Learn More About Legislative Issues
To learn more about California state legislation, you can visit California Breast Cancer Organizations (CABCO).
To learn more about federal legislation, you can visit National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC).
Get more information on African American Health:
African Americans have more disease, disability, and early death than whites. Major health problems for African American women include cancer, diabetes, vision loss, tuberculosis, and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (including HIV/AIDS).
The leading causes of death for African American women are heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease. African Americans are about twice as likely to have diabetes as whites of the same age and they are more likely to have other serious health problems caused by diabetes.
Among women, about two out of three new HIV cases are African American. High rates of other STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis are a problem as well...MORE
Get a mammogram. It is the best way to find out if you have breast cancer. A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. It can find breast cancer that is too small for you or your doctor to feel. All women starting at age 40 should get a mammogram every one to two years.
Talk to your doctor about how often you need a mammogram. If your mother or sister had breast cancer, you may need to start getting mammograms earlier.
Mammography screening remains the best available method to detect breast cancer early. However, no medical test is always 100 percent accurate, and mammography is no exception. Research is under way to improve the technology to lead to better accuracy and to create new technologies.
In 1992, the U.S. Congress passed the Mammography Quality Standards Act to ensure that mammography facilities throughout the country are of high quality and are reliable. To lawfully perform mammography, each facility must prominently display a certificate issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This certificate serves as evidence that the facility meets quality standards.
It is important for women to practice the elements of good breast health. It is suggested women:
- Obtain regular mammography screening starting at the age of 40
- Obtain annual clinical breast exams
- Perform monthly breast-self exams
- Obtain a risk assessment from a physician
For more information about mammography screening, please refer to the American Cancer Society's Web site. For screening locations, visit The American College of Radiology
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Links
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