Breast Cancer

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the breast grow out of control. If left untreated, breast cancer can cause serious illness and even death.

cancer can be found during a series of tests performed by health care professionals.

What Increases Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

Cigarette smoking, excess body weight, alcohol intake, poor diet, and physical inactivity can increase your risk of breast cancer. These modifiable risk factors can be changed to help decrease your risk of breast and other cancers. However, there are some factors you cannot change. These are known as non-modifiable risk factors. Some non-modifiable risk factors are family history of breast cancer, genetic mutations, and aging.

If you have one or more risk factor, talk to your health care provider about ways you can lower your risk and screening options.

What is a clinical breast exam?

A clinical breast exam is when a health care provider uses their fingers to feel for any lumps or other changes. Your health care provider may perform a clinical breast examination during your yearly wellness exam with your health care provider.

What is a Mammogram?

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. To take the picture, your health care provider will place your breast between two x-ray plates. The radiation for the mammogram does not cause cancer.

Who should get tested?

Women under the age of 40 who have symptoms such as lump, nipple discharge, breast pain or are determined to be at high risk (have a genetic mutation or close family history) for breast cancer should talk with their health care providers about whether to have a mammogram.
Women aged 40-49 should have a discussion with their health care provider about when they should get screened for breast cancer and how often.
Women aged 50 and older with average risk should get a mammogram at least every two years.

Breast Cancer Facts in DC

Breast cancer was the most diagnosed cancer among women (139.5 per 100,000 women) in 2018.
Breast cancer was the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths (27.1 per 100,000 women) in 2018.
African American women were more than twice as likely to die from breast cancer compared to White women even while the number of new cases amongst African American women were lower than White women in 2018.

Find more information about breast cancer on the CDC webpage: www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/index.htm

Project WISH

Project WISH (Women Into Staying Healthy) provides free breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to eligible women in the District of Columbia. Project WISH also provides patient navigation, transportation assistance and cancer education to all women enrolled in the project.

WISH is a program designed to increase early detection and treatment of breast and cervical cancers by offering free breast and cervical cancer screenings, diagnostic services, and patient navigation to women between the ages 21 to 64 who are uninsured or underinsured.

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