When part of American University’s College of Arts and Sciences Leadership Program (CAS Lead) students are given the opportunity to work with different non-profit organizations, one of them being the BREM Foundation, a group based in the DMV Area working to defeat breast cancer with a focus on early detection.
This organization means a lot to women who have experienced loved ones fighting breast cancer or fighting breast cancer themselves. Their website presents readers with educational videos that can very well save your life one day. One of the videos is questions you should ask your doctor about breast cancer. Going to the doctor can certainly be intimidating, however, if you know the right questions to ask your doctor about breast cancer, your visit can be much more productive.
The BREM Foundation states that by age 20, women should check themselves for abnormalities once a month. They provide a video tutorial on their website about how to properly self-examine for breast cancer. In order to prevent breast cancer as well as ensure early detection, knowing the risk factors is one of the most important things anyone can do.
The number one risk factor is being a biological woman in which 75% of diagnoses can occur even in women with no family history. Having proper communication from your doctor on when to start getting mammograms and going once a year for your physical reduces these risks.
The next risk factor is family history. If you don’t have a family history of breast cancer, the recommended age to start getting mammograms is 40. It is also important to discuss genetic testing with your doctor.
The BREM Foundation has many other resources that can help you feel reassured on all things breast cancer such as an article on screening options, and a general resources library. On Wednesday, April 13, at 8:00 p.m. the BREM Foundation is hosting an event called “Check Out My Rack” on Zoom. During this event participants will hear from breast cancer survivors, medical professionals, and BREM Foundation staff members on all things breast cancer and will have the ability to ask any questions they might have.