Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Prolactin Levels

1. Know your risk

• Talk with both sides of your family to learn about your family health history.
• Talk with a health care provider about your risk of breast cancer.

2. Get screened

• Talk with a health care provider about which screening tests are right for you if you’re at higher risk.
• Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you’re at average risk.*
• Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 25, and every year starting at age 40.*

* Per National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines

3. Know what is normal for you

See a health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes:

• Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

To see illustrations of these warning signs, please visit the Warning Signs of Breast Cancer page.

4. Make healthy lifestyle choices

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Make exercise part of your routine.
• Limit alcohol intake.
• Limit menopausal hormone therapy (postmenopausal hormone use).
• Breastfeed if you can.