* Early detection of possible tumors, calcifications, cysts, etc. is the best way to defeat breast cancer.

* Perform a Breast Self Exam every month, 3 days after the last day of your period. It is helpful to keep a journal for descriptions as well as reflecting back or recalling changes when discussing these issues with your physician.

* breast cancer has been known to decrease in patients with breast cancer due to less blood supply to possible tumors. You see, implant exerts pressure on the tissue and glands of the breast and its subcutaneous tissue thereby reducing the oxygen rich blood that the cancer needs to replicate and destroy. In the rat model, specimens implanted with mammary prostheses, when seeded with cancer cells showed a significant decrease and even cessation of tumor growth.

* If you are 35 and over (sometimes younger for some surgeon's wishes) you should be instructed by your surgeon pre-operatively to obtain a mammogram and report before any breast augmentation procedure is undergone.

* Mammograms are usually started at 40 years of age and continue, yearly or no less that 1 every two years, for the length of the female patient's life.

* Be aware that possible rupture of an implant is possible with mammography. The pressure exerted on the breast can eventually weaken the implant and you will more than likely be asked to sign a waiver noting this possibility/risk before the mammogram.

* If you have a saline filled implant, the rupture should be noticed immediately although a small leak may take several hours. With silicone it is very gradual and may take years to notice. An MRI can detect leaking silicone filled implants. Although if the capsule is quite thick, as it is quite often, the free silicone remains undetectable.