“I would feel pain if I had breast cancer, so I don’t need a checkup.”

Early breast cancer is not painful at all 90% of the time, so you can’t rely on the presence of pain to tell if you have cancer. Mammograms and self-­‐exams are vital for detecting cancer. If you do have breast pain, chances are it isn’t breast cancer. More than likely it is a benign cause related to hormonal cycles, benign cysts, benign growths, or even a bra that is too small or poorly fitted. Still, it is better to be safe than sorry, so follow up with your doctor to determine the cause.