Download Anyone Can Get Screen for Breast Cancer Survive It

POWER through education.
Breast Cancer
Tautai Lavea’i
If you have received an
abnormal test result for a
For More Information Visit These Websites:
National Cancer Institute
www.cancer.gov
breast exam, mammogram,
or physical check-up you
Anyone Can Get
Not Everyone Will
Survive It
American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
may be eligible for assistance
through the LBJ TMC
Patient Navigation Program.
Contact Mrs. Julia Salilo
Foifua at 633-4589 for more
information.
Cancer Care Inc.
www.cancercare.org
Be A Survivor
OR CALL the
Screen for Breast Cancer
Breast & Cervical Cancer clinic at 633-2135
ObGYN Clinic at LBJ 633-1222
American Samoa Community Cancer Network at
633-4589
This brochure was developed by the
American Samoa Community Cancer Network ,
translated by the ASCC Institute of Samoan Studies, and
Funded by the National Cancer Institute Grant #5U01CA114590
What is prevention?
Cancer prevention is action taken to
lower the chance of getting cancer. By
preventing cancer, the number of new
cases of cancer in a population is
lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the
number of deaths caused by cancer.
To prevent new cancers from starting,
we remove anything that increases our
chance of developing cancer. These
things are called ‘cancer risk factors’.
Some risk factors for cancer can be
avoided, but many cannot. For example,
both smoking and inheriting certain
genes are risk factors for some types of
cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Regular exercise and a healthy diet
may be protect from some types of
cancer. Avoiding risk factors may lower
your risk but it does not mean that you
will not get cancer.
Different ways to prevent cancer are being studied, including:
What is screening?
Screening is looking for cancer before a
person has any symptoms. This can help
find cancer at an early stage. When
abnormal tissue or cancer is found early, it
may be easier to treat. By the time
symptoms appear, cancer may have begun
to spread.
It is important to remember that your doctor
does not necessarily think you have cancer
if he or she suggests a screening test.
Screening tests are given when you have
no cancer symptoms.
If a screening test result is abnormal, you
may need to have more tests done to find
out if you have cancer. These are called
diagnostic tests.
Breast Cancer Screening
STEP 1: Annual Physical Check-Ups after
age 18
STEP 2: Monthly Self-Breast Exams

Changing lifestyle or eating habits.
STEP 3: Annual Clinical Breast Exams

Avoiding things known to cause
cancer.
Taking medicines to treat a
precancerous condition or to keep
cancer from starting.
STEP 4: Annual Mammogram beginning at
age 40

DOH Breast & Cervical Cancer
Early Detection Program 633-2135
Where Do I Get
Screened?
Annual physical check-ups and annual
clinical breast exams are available at
the Department of Health’s Community Health Clinic after-hours Women’s
Clinic at Tafuna, Leone, and Amouli.
If a lump or other abnormality is found
you will be referred to the LBJ TMC
surgical clinic.
Monthly Self-Breast Exams are done
in the privacy of your own home. The
Health Clinic Nurse will show you how
to check yourself for unusual lumps,
swelling, and other symptoms.
Although Breast Cancer is most commonly found in older women, young
women should always do the Self
Breast Exam.
Watch the educational Breast Cancer
Screening video produced by the
American Samoa Community Cancer
Network for a complete demonstration
on how to do your monthly self-breast
exam.
If you are age 45 and over you can
sign up with the Breast & Cervical
Program’s free mammogram service.:
633-2135