• Genes and health
• Conditions we cover
• Breast Cancer
• Complete scan
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The earliest stage of breast cancer is usually without symptoms.

Knowing your genetic risk of breast cancer can increase your breast health awareness.

Breast cancer awareness is knowing your breasts

Breast health starts with knowing your breasts

No matter what your age, breast health starts with knowing your breasts. Regular self-examination of your breasts helps you become aware of any changes that may be early warning signs of breast cancer. Many women discover their own breast cancer through changes in the look and feel of their breasts.

deCODEme helps you know more

Knowing your genetic risk of breast cancer helps you know more about your breasts. The deCODEme Complete Scan and the deCODEme Cancer Scan include a genetic test for common breast cancer variants and calculate your genetic risk of breast cancer according to the best science available to date.

Knowing your genetic risk empowers you in prevention

Whatever your results, routine screening for breast cancer (including self-exams, mammograms, and doctor visits) will still be important for you, as it is for all women. Knowing your genetic risk of breast cancer can empower you to select, along with your doctor, the many preventive actions and lifestyle choices now known to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

The earliest stage of breast cancer is usually without symptoms

As all cancers, breast cancer starts in a cell which suddenly starts dividing at an uncontrolled rate. In the earliest stages of breast cancer, this tiny symptomless lump of cancer cells can be too small to be found during self-examination of the breasts. A mammogram can detect these tiny lumps or tumors at this early stage which is why the recommended annual screening mammogram for women over 40 is so important.

Painless lumps may be the first sign of breast cancer

In the early stages of breast cancer, the growing tumors are usually too small to be felt and completely painless. Once a certain size, they can still be painless but may be found as palpable lumps in the breasts. Some tumors may also change the appearance of the affected breast, making it seem elevated or asymmetric, or changing the look of the nipple. Many breast cancers however, have no such symptoms and cannot be felt on examination. Yearly mammograms for women over 40 and regular self-examination of the breast for all women after 20 years of age, are very important steps in breast cancer prevention, as they increase the likelihood of detecting breast cancer symptoms early when they can be successfully treated.

Not all breast lumps turn out to be breast cancer

Although finding a lump in the breast is how many cases of breast cancer are initially detected, most lumps found during self-examination are probably not cancer. They are more likely scar tissue, cysts, or lumps that form due to normal changes in the breast tissue, for example changes associated with breast-feeding, hormone changes or aging. Any lump found in the breast should however always be evaluated by your doctor.

More information on breast cancer symptoms

• What is cancer?
• What is breast cancer?
• If you suspect breast cancer.
• The five steps of a breast self-exam.
• Mammograms and other breast imaging procedures

This content was last reviewed on February 09, 2010.

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