Approximately
203,500 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer this
year, and 39,600 will die from the disease. |
1 woman every 3 minutes is
diagnosed, and one woman every 14 minutes dies of
breast cancer. |
Women under the age of 40 account for approximately 5% of breast
cancer cases. Breast cancer
is the most common cancer among African-American women, but ranks
second to lung cancer in cause of cancer deaths. |
Approximately 1 man will be diagnosed to every 100 women diagnosed
with breast cancer |
All women are at risk of getting breast cancer.
The
following are some factors that increase your risk:
Personal
history of a prior breast cancer, Aging, If there is a history of breast
cancer on your mother's or father's side - especially if close relatives
are diagnosed at a young age, Women who started their period early, went
through menopause at a later stage or had children after 30 or not at
all, Drinking 2 or more alcoholic beverages a day.
Exercise,
a low-fat diet and weight
control can REDUCE your risk of breast cancer.
The lifetime risk for women to develop breast cancer is one in eight.
However, different ages face different risks. Please note the incidence
of breast cancer based on your age.
20's:
1 in 2,500
30's: 1 in 257
40's: 1 in 67
50's: 1 in 36
60's: 1 in 28 |
Early detection saves lives. There is a 97% five-year survival rate
when breast cancer is caught before it spreads to other parts of
the body. Take time for yourself and follow these guidelines for
early detection of breast cancer. If there is a history of breast
cancer in your family, consult your doctor and start earlier than
noted below.
Starting at age 20, perform a monthly breast self-examination (BSE),
at the same time each month, avoiding the days immediately before, during
or after your period. Follow the simple steps below:
1. Seated or standing, look carefully for any changes in your breasts,
from the collarbone to the bra line and under each arm. Repeat with arms
over your head, making sure to check under each breast.
2. Put hands on hips or behind head and squeeze chest muscles, looking
for changes.
3. Lift one hand above your head. With the pads of your fingers, press
firmly across the breast in an up and down line, starting on one side
and moving slowly to the other. Cover the entire breast, top to bottom.
4. Gently squeeze the nipple and look for discharge.
Clinical
Breast Examination |
Beginning at age 30, continue a monthly BSE and have a clinical
breast exam by a health professional at least every 3 years.
The examiner will first inspect your breasts for changes in size
or shape. Using the pads of the fingers, the examiner will check
for lumps in breasts and under arms and will also note texture and
shape.
At age 40, in addition to a monthly BSE and annual clinical breast exam,
begin getting
annual mammograms by a licensed technician.
A mammogram will take approximately 20 minutes total, but each compression
lasts a few seconds.
You may feel discomfort, but it should not be painful. To reduce the amount
of discomfort, do not have a mammogram immediately before or during your
period.
Facilities are required to send results within 30 days. You should be
contacted within 5 business days if there are any concerns with the mammogram.
Symptoms,
Abnormalities and Changes |
If you have any concerns or find any change, call your doctor. Symptoms
may not be painful, but should not be ignored.
Symptoms include, but are not limited to:
Visual change, including:
- Size of
the breast, including swelling Inverted nipple, which looks as though
it has caved in
- Pitting
or scaling of the breast
- Nipple
discharge
- Lumps
in breast/underarm area
*Sources: American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute
