It's a good idea to keep copies of your medical records. You'll need them if you change doctors, move, get sick when you're away from home, or end up in an emergency room. If any of these things happen and you have your records, you may get treatment more quickly, and it will be safer. Here are some steps to get your...

Interactive tool guides you through questions to determine what health screenings you might need to prevent or diagnose diseases. Provides links to more extensive info on early disease detection and immunizations.

Medicare is health insurance that the United States government provides for people ages 65 and older. It also covers some people younger than 65 who have disabilities and people who have long-term (chronic) kidney failure who need dialysis or a transplant. Medicare helps pay for most hospital services and doctor visits...

A clinical breast examination (CBE) is a physical examination of the breast done by a health professional. During this exam, your doctor will carefully feel your breasts and under your arms to check for lumps or other changes. Clinical breast exams...

What is radiation? Radiation is energy that travels as a wave or particle. Some types of radiation can be harmful. This is called ionizing radiation. Radioactivity is ionizing radiation that is given off by things like uranium as they decay. About half of the ionizing radiation we're exposed to comes from nature. It's...

What is gynecomastia? Gynecomastia is the overdevelopment of the male breast. A breast has both glandular tissue and fatty tissue. With gynecomastia, the glands in the breast become enlarged. The enlarged glands may feel like a rubbery disk beneath the nipple area. Both breasts are often affected. What causes it...

With fibrocystic breast changes, your breasts may feel lumpy, thick, and tender, especially right before your period. They are also called cyclic breast changes, because they come and go with your menstrual cycle. Fibrocystic breast changes are...

Discusses doing regular self-checks to help find breast lumps or changes early. Covers how it is done and what to look for. Also discusses when you should see a doctor.

People with early-stage breast cancer who have breast-conserving surgery ( lumpectomy) followed by radiation treatments live just as long as people who have mastectomy. Some people with early-stage cancer choose to have both the affected breast and the breast without cancer removed. Removing both breasts is called a...

What is male breast cancer? Breast cancer is the growth of abnormal cells in one or both breasts. Male breast cancer usually develops in the breast tissue found behind the nipple. Male breast cancer is often a type called invasive ductal carcinoma. What causes it? The exact cause of male breast cancer isn't known, but...

Breast lumps are common, especially from ages 30 to 50. A number of conditions can result in a lump or lumps in your breast. Most of these conditions are harmless or of minor concern. Generalized breast lumpiness usually feels like lots of little...

An intraductal papilloma is a noncancerous (benign) small growth inside a milk duct in the breast. It may appear on the skin near the nipple as a growth that looks like a wart. Single intraductal papillomas often occur in women nearing menopause. They can produce a bloody or sticky nipple discharge. Multiple intraductal...

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac. Breast cysts usually do not contain cancer cells (are benign). Some women who have lumpy breasts also have benign breast cysts that are surrounded by fibrous tissue. Some cysts cause lumps that can be seen or felt (palpable). A cyst that can be felt may move about under the fingers. Its...

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) is a type of abnormal cell change found in the milk glands (lobules) of the breast. LCIS is not cancer and the abnormal cells don't spread beyond the lobules. But having LCIS makes you more likely to develop breast cancer later in life. LCIS usually doesn't cause any symptoms or show up...