Renowned physicians encourage women to go for regular breast examinations

Doctors Ritu Chopra and Andrew Ordon, respected physicians with practices in Rancho Mirage and Beverly Hills, are encouraging Coachella Valley women to obtain regular breast exams and to be aware of their general breast health.

"October is breast cancer awareness month, and a good time to urge all women to take their breast health seriously," says Chopra, a former general and breast cancer surgeon. "Women should be taking the time to visit their doctor for regular checkups and have a general awareness of their own health," he continues.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States this year. An estimated 40,170 women are expected to die from the disease in 2009 alone.

"Early detection is the key, because breast cancer can be defeated if caught in time," says Ordon, co-host of the syndicated talk show The Doctors. "If a woman is faced with the need for surgery, with the advances we've made in reconstructive procedures, those procedures aren't as scary and intrusive as they once were."

Ordon strongly encourages women to visit their doctor immediately if they experience any of the following:

Symptoms:

• Lump or thickness that feels different from the surrounding tissue
• Bloody discharge from the nipple
• Change is breast size or shape
• Any peeling, reddening or changes to the nipple or skin of breast

The Doctors also offer tips on how to help prevent breast cancer:

Prevention:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Drink alcohol in moderation
• Exercise regularly
• Conduct regular breast self-exams
• Talk to your doctor about breast cancer screenings