Breast cancer screening is critical to catching this disease early. The earlier it's caught, the more likely treatment will be effective.

Your doctor can help you decide how often to perform breast self-exams and undergo clinical breast exams.

The National Cancer Institute recommends that women who are in their 40s or older begin having regular screening mammograms every one to two years. However, you should talk to your own doctor about when and how often to have mammograms, based on your own risk factors. If you are at an increased risk for the disease, your doctor may recommend earlier and/or more frequent screening.