Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women. The five-year survival rate of breast cancer is over 90% when caught early. Find a provider and schedule your screening today

Are breast cancer screenings covered?

TRICARE covers annual mammograms for all women who are age 40 or older and for women age 30 or older who are at a 15% or greater lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) have developed a risk assessment tool to estimate a woman's risk of developing invasive breast cancer.

What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. It is important to have any new breast mass, lump or breast change checked by a healthcare professional experienced in diagnosing breast diseases. Other possible symptoms include:

• Swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt)
• Skin irritation or dimpling (sometimes looking like an orange peel)
• Breast or nipple pain
• Nipple retraction (turning inward)
• Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• Nipple discharge (other than breast milk)

Am I at risk?

The following are risk factors for breast cancer:

• Drinking alcohol
• Being overweight or obese
• Being a breast cancer of survivor
• Having a history of breast cancer in your family
• Not being physically active
• Not having children

When should I get a screening?

You should get a breast screening if you are:

• Age 40-49: Talk to your provider about when to start and how often to get a mammogram
• Age 50-74: For women with an average risk for breast cancer, a mammogram every two years is recommended