In California Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts provides free breast exams and mammograms for low-income, uninsured or underinsured women age 40 and older who qualify. Call 1-800-511-2300 today to see if you qualify.

• A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease like breast cancer.
• Some risk factors you can change, some you cannot change.
• It is important to know that even if you change those risks that increase your chances of getting breast cancer it is no guarantee that you still won't get it.
• Some people who have one, some or all of the risk factors for breast cancer will never get it.

• Being a woman is the single greatest risk for developing breast cancer.
• Getting older increases a woman's risk for breast cancer, especially women over age 50.
• Having a history of breast cancer in your family (mother, sister, daughter.)
• No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. It is known that bumping, bruising or touching your breasts does not cause cancer; but, there are things you can do to change your risk of getting breast cancer.

• Keep your weight at a healthy level
  Studies have shown that being obese (which means weighing more than you should for both your age and your height) increase your risk for breast cancer.
• Stay active
  Do something physically active for 30 or more minutes everyday to help keep your weight at a healthy level. Try walking and gardening to stay fit.
• Eat fruits and vegetables
  Fruits and vegetables have vitamins and minerals that can help to protect you against cancer.
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink
  Studies have shown a link between drinking alcohol (any kind of alcohol - beer, wine, liquor) and breast cancer. If you do drink have no more than one drink a day or don't drink at all.
• Don't smoke
  One study showed that women who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day for 40 years increased their risk for getting breast cancer to 83%!
  Smoking increases your risk for other cancers and heart disease.

If I stay healthy;
my family will stay healthy too.
Jaccque