Government publications available for breast cancer information

Government publications

available for breast cancer information

Every three

minutes a woman in the United States learns she has breast cancer. Your

best defense against the disease is having all the facts and early detection.

October is

Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Take the time to get the facts on breast

cancer with a new, free package of five publications from the U.S. Food

and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Use "Understanding

Breast Changes" to learn about breast conditions that are not cancer

and screening methods for the early detection of breast cancer.

Find out about

the risk factors for breast cancer and NCI's recommendations for screening

with "The Facts About Breast Cancer and Mammograms."

Use "Mammography

Today" and its easy-to-follow question and answer format to learn

when you should get a mammogram and what to do if you change mammogram

facilities.

"FDA Sets

Higher Standards for Mammography" tells you how to find a certified

mammography facility and how to prepare for a mammogram.

Use "Breast

Cancer: Better Treatments Save More Lives" to learn about how new

drugs and procedures that can help improve the lives of women with this

disease.

The first step

in fighting breast cancer is talking to your doctor about when you should

begin having mammograms and how often you should have one. Generally,

if you are in your forties or older, its best to get a mammogram every

1 to 2 years.

If you're looking

for a mammogram facility, make sure the facility you choose has a Mammogram

Quality Standards Act certificate that has not expired. This certificate

means that your facility undergoes regular inspections and its staff has

had special training.

After you have

a mammogram, be sure to follow up with your doctor and get your results.

If you decide to change facilities, be sure to get your original mammograms

and bring them with you to your new facility.

Find out more

with the "Breast Cancer Awareness" package. There are three

easy ways to get your free publications:

Call toll-free

1 (888) 8 PUEBLO. That's 1 (888) 878-3256, weekdays 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. EDT

and ask for the "Breast Cancer Awareness" package.

Send your

name and address to Breast Cancer Awareness, Pueblo, Colorado 81009.

Visit www.pueblo.gsa.gov

and read or print these and hundreds of other FCIC publications for free.