Breast surgeon Dr. Bob Maganini says self-exams are the best way a woman can detect breast cancer and catch it at an early stage, at which it can be easily treated.

Maganini is also a board member at the Chicago Susan G. Komen For the Cure affiliate, which is celebrating in October national breast cancer awareness month. The doctor says self-detection is a woman’s best defense against becoming one of the 40,000 women who have lost their lives to the disease so far this year, by catching it early and at its most treatable. Another 180,000 women have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the country this year.

Q What should women look for in self-exams?

A The first thing to do is to become familiar with the normal look and feel of the breast, so you gain an appreciation of what the norm is. Breast tissue is lumpy in every woman, so some women are worried they won’t know when there is a cancer. In reality, though, women are exceedingly good at detecting cancers in their breasts. Over half of the cancers I see are found by a lump in the breast, and over 95 percent are found by the patient herself. By performing monthly self exams, women get the idea of what it’s normally like, and when there is a change, they are very good at detecting that and bringing it to their doctor’s attention. Many times it’s nothing, but those are the times at which we can find cancer at its most treatable and curable in most instances.

Q What can women do to protect themselves against breast cancer?

A Women are not powerless against this problem. They really can make a difference by doing self exams, mammography and regular screenings, and through lifestyle changes, with exercise and a good diet that’s low in fat and high in fiber. Those things can be hard to do in your everyday life, but if you set those goals and strive for them, it significantly reduces your risk.

Q At what age should women begin getting annual mammograms?

A It is usually recommended that a baseline mammogram be done at age 35. There is no question that every woman 40 and over should get an annual mammogram (but) there are some women who should begin getting mammograms earlier, around age 35. These are women who have mothers or sisters affected at a younger age by breast cancer.

Q What is the age at which most women develop breast cancer?

A About 80 percent of breast cancer patients are diagnosed over the age of 50. Only about 5 percent are diagnosed before the age of 40. It’s generally a problem you see in the over-50 population, and the average age of a woman diagnosed is around 61. Breast cancer is the most common cause of death in woman between the ages of 40 and 50. Even though it represents a smaller percent of the whole, this 40 to 50 age group is really very critical and has a huge impact because a lot of these women are mothers, and very productive at work or in the community. It’s just devastating when you look at the big picture.

Q What are some common misconceptions about breast cancer?

A People don’t understand that the dose (of radiation from a mammogram) is really a healthy amount, and some believe the mammograms can cause some form of cancer. The radiation you would get from even 10 years of mammograms is really negligible in terms of risk. Also, women think that if breast cancer does not run in their family, they don’t have to worry. But every woman has to worry about it, and 70 percent of women diagnosed each year have no family history or risk factors and are totally unsuspecting. It’s really key that in terms of screening with mammography that every woman get it over the age of 40.