Dear lilgirl_18,

It's possible, but very unlikely. Breast cancer in teenagers is very rare. For women 20 and older, the American Cancer Society recommends clinical breast exams, performed by a trained health care provider, once every three years, and then yearly after age 40. Many women already receive clinical breast exams as a regular part of their periodic exams.

Early breast cancer has few, if any, symptoms. The tumors are not necessarily painful, and there are not always visible signs. Becoming familiar with your breasts — what they look like and how they feel — will help you notice any irregularities, such as puckering or dimpling of the skin, unusual nipple discharge, or unusual lumps.

Although there is no foolproof way to prevent breast cancer, there are ways to reduce your risk:

• Exercise. For teens and young women, exercising just four hours per week can lower the lifetime breast cancer risk by 60 percent.



• Eat well. Studies show that eating a diet low in animal fat and high in fiber can decrease a person's risk for many different types of cancers, including breast cancer. Obesity also increases the risk of breast cancer.



• Limit alcohol consumption. Drinking a lot of alcohol may increase the risk of breast cancer by increasing the amount of estrogen in the blood.



• Quit smoking, or don't start. Although studies have not shown a direct link between smoking and breast cancer for all women, some data suggest that smoking does increase the risk of breast cancer for a small population of women with genes that interfere with the body's ability to process various chemicals in cigarette smoke.

Hope this information helps!

Take care,

teenwire.com^® Editors

This column is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have a medical problem, please call toll-free 1-800-230-PLAN for an appointment with the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.