How To Be An Activist For Your Breast Future

You can use the power of knowledge to create a healthier future. All you have to do is take care of your girls.

In short, you can be your own activist. Being an activist means being a vigorous advocate for a cause: in this case, your breast health.

Here are seven ways you can adopt an activist mentality. And own your body, your life, and your future. Wherever you may be in your breast health journey—whether you’re routinely screening, dealing with a cancer diagnosis, or going through treatment—you are the strongest advocate. For you. And for your breast friends.

1. Check your breasts. Breast self-exam is easy, free, and can be an effective screening tool, along with regular check-ups with your doctor, annual mammograms, and ultrasounds if needed. In fact, the Genius 3D^® exam finds up to 65% more invasive breast cancers compared to 2D alone.¹ Take your life—and your bust—into your own hands. Here’s how to DIY.

2. Know your risk. Ask your doctor if you’re a good candidate for genetic testing. The BRCA gene test is a blood test that screens your DNA to determine your possible risk of breast cancer. Genetic testing is not 100% accurate. If a test is negative, you still have a chance of getting breast cancer. If the test is positive, there is still a 15% to 20% chance of not getting breast cancer.² Keep in mind, though, family history in of itself is not the main determinate.

3. Find a Bosom Buddy. Getting a mammogram can be intimidating—whether it’s your first or your twenty-first. There’s strength in numbers. Invite one or two friends to join your tribe. It’s a win-win for all your girls.

4. Take charge through thick and thin. No two breasts are quite the same. Some are denser than others. In fact, in the U.S., 40-50% of women ages 40-74 have dense breasts.³ Get to know your breast density. It can be a factor in your risk for developing breast cancer.

5. Make it a habit. Being an activist takes commitment—today and over the long haul. Getting an annual mammogram helps your doctor keep an imaging history. That means more informed analysis and decisions over time. And mammography has helped reduce breast cancer mortality in the U.S. by nearly 40% since 1990.⁴ That’s a habit we can live with.

6. Be fearless. The fear of results, diagnosis, and the whole idea of your gals getting squished: the struggle is real. But taking care of your health is the best thing activists can do to show fear who’s the boss—that’s you.

7. Speak up. Your body is the only one you have. It’s up to you to take action and do the right thing. If you’re unsure about any aspect of a routine mammogram, diagnosis, or treatment option, speak up. Ask questions. Seek the answers you need. Take initiative and plan for your Genius^® exam right now.

Consider this: Activists are the most visible part of any social movement. The simple, bold act of being an activist for your own health might just inspire and motivate your Bosom Buddies to do the same. And that’s what we call living your breast life.

Disclaimers – The content in this piece is for information purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice. Please contact your medical professional for specific advice regarding your health and treatment. This information may be relevant in the U.S. and other markets and is not intended as a product solicitation or promotion where such activities are prohibited. Because Hologic materials are distributed through websites, eBroadcasts and tradeshows, it is not always possible to control where such materials appear. For specific information on what products may be available in a particular country, please write to womenshealth@hologic.com.

The Genius^® 3D Mammography™ exam (a.k.a. Genius® exam) is acquired on the Hologic^® 3D Mammography™ system and consists of a 2D and 3D™ image set, where the 2D image can be either an acquired 2D image or a 2D image generated from the 3D™ image set. The Genius^® exam is only available on the Hologic^® 3D Mammography™ system. Please consult your physician for a complete list of benefits and risks associated with mammography.

SOM-01187 rev. 001 3/22. Hologic, 3D, 3D Mammography, Genius, The Science of Sure, and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Hologic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries.