Chances are that sometime in your life, either through a talk with your mom or sister, a school program or a visit to your doctor, you have been told about the importance of breast examinations for breast health, mostly for the early detection of breast cancer.

Breast cancer is a disease that may take years to develop and often has no symptoms early on in its formation. This is why breast health and early detection of any abnormality is so important.

To help sort out what tests should be done when, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends a three-part screening for early breast cancer detection in asymptomatic women:

Breast Self-Exam: The ACS recommends women begin examining their breasts once a month beginning at the age of 20. To properly perform the self-exam, women should be taught by their physician and ask any questions they may have about the way their breasts feel. According to the ACS, the benefit of doing a self-exam on a monthly basis beginning at a young age is that a woman becomes familiar with the way her breasts should feel and can more easily detect when something is different.

Clinical Breast Exam: The ACS also recommends that women ages 20-39 get a clinical breast exam done by a physician every three years. Women who are 40 or older should get a clinical exam every year.

Screening Mammogram: The ACS recommends that women age 40 and older receive a mammogram (an X-ray of the breast) every year. According to the ACS, the goal of screening mammography is to detect cancer when it is still too small to be felt by the woman or her physician. Early detection of small breast cancers may help improve the chance of successful treatment.

Since none of the above screening methods can guarantee 100% detection of breast cancers, it is important that a woman sees her physician on a regular basis and discusses any changes she may have in her breasts. Be smart. Get educated about your family health history. Talk to your physician about your personal risk for developing the disease. Follow the guidelines recommended by the ACS and your doctor. Because when it comes to breast cancer, early detection can be a life saver, literally.

For more information about screening tests and early detection of breast cancer, talk to your doctor or contact the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org <http://www.cancer.org>.

To find a physician in your area, call the Physician Referral Line toll free 1-888-TENET-4U. A representative is available 24 hours a day, everyday.

Dr. DelCastillo is a board-certified physician caring for hundreds of patients each year. Dr. DelCastillo is one of many quality physicians on staff at Park Plaza Hospital.