The Florida Department of Health would like to remind women of the importance of early detection year-round. An estimated 13,500 women will be diagnosed with the disease this year in Florida.

There are several steps women can take to increase the chances of early detection and prevention:

· Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers;

· Monthly breast self-examinations should begin at the age of 20;

· Clinical breast examinations are recommended every three years for women between the ages of 20 and 30, with annual exams beginning at age 40.

· Women over 40 should have mammograms every one to two years. This x-ray technique can detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage.

"All women are at some risk for breast cancer," said Department of Health (DOH) Deputy State Health Officer Bonnie Sorensen, M.D., M.B.A. "The best protection against breast cancer is early detection."

The risk for breast cancer increases with age. The majority of breast cancer cases occur in women over the age of 50. Although rare, younger women and men can develop breast cancer.

The most common signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast, an abnormal thickening of the breast or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Finding a lump or change in your breast does not necessarily mean you have breast cancer. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult your physician.

The Department of Health's Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection program was created in 1994 through a federal grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide assistance to women, ages 50-64 who are uninsured or underinsured and at or below 200% of poverty level. Since the beginning of the program, more than 26,000 women have received mammograms in Florida. Call 1-800-451-2229 for more information about a program in your area or visit the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Website at www.doh.state.fl.us/family/bcc.