Both physicians and the American Cancer Society will reiterate that any woman in her 20s or 30s should receive a full physician breast exam once every three years, and yearly for those over 40.

While mammography is the most effective diagnostic tool for detecting breast cancer early, discussing key factors with your primary care physician is just as important to your overall cancer prevention regiment.

Physicians will help determine which risk factors you should focus on changing. While family history and genes are steadfast, healthy modifications to your daily diet and eating habits can greatly reduce your risk for all cancers.

Lifestyle related factors indicate a higher risk for breast cancer. Never having children, or having them after the age of 30, not breast-feeding, use of alcohol, weight and lack of physical activity all contribute to both overall health and wellness and slight increases of risk for breast cancer.

Speak to your primary care physician today to receive more information on how to conduct properly a self-breast exam. While self-breast exams have not directly impacted the mortality rate of breast cancer, they have resulted in increased physician examinations and diagnostic screenings.

Estimates indicate that approximately 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer (20 percent resulting in death); but breast cancer does not have to be inevitable.

The mantra is true, early detection is your best protection.