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Female Breast
Female Breast
Mammary gland
Mammary gland

Aging changes in the breast
Information:

With aging, a woman's breasts lose breast tissue and subcutaneous fat, reducing the size and "fullness" of her breasts. Along with this is a decrease in the number of mammary ducts.

The breasts lose support. Aging breasts commonly flatten and sag, and the nipple may invert slightly. The alveoli (the area surrounding the nipple) becomes smaller and may nearly disappear. Loss of hair around the nipple is common.

Breast cancer risk increases with age. Women should begin or continue to perform monthly breast self-examinations. However, because self-breast exams do not always pick up early stages of breast cancer, women should also talk to their healthcare providers about mammograms.

RELATED TOPICS
Aging changes in female reproductive system
Breast cancer
Mammography
Review Date: 5/31/2001
Reviewed By: Hollis D. Day, MD, Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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