In the United States, breast cancer is expected to be newly diagnosed every three minutes, and a woman will die from breast cancer every 13 minutes.
Estimated new cases and deaths from breast cancer in the United States in 2009:
New Cases: 192,370 (female); 1,910 (male)
Deaths: 40,170 (female); 440 (male)
Men and women with same stage breast cancer have a fairly similar outlook for survival.
According to ACS 2009 data, mortality rates have been declining since 1990; by 3.2% per year in those under age 50 and by 2.0% in those age 50 and older. These decreases are most likely the results of earlier detection (mammography) and improved treatment.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for all women and the leading overall cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 20 and 59.
The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a women’s mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
Breast Cancer risk increases with age.
Eighty percent of all breast tumors are benign.
The risk of developing breast cancer increases as a woman grows older.
The risk of developing breast cancer increases for a woman whose, mother, sister, daughter or two or more relatives have had the disease.
The hormone Estrogen may also play a key role in the risk factors of breast cancer including having an early first period or menstrual bleeding, having a first pregnancy after the age of 25 to 35, having no children and the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer will be cancer-free after five years.
Seventy-one percent of black women diagnosed with breast cancer experience a five-year survival rate, while eighty-six percent of white women experience five-year survival.
There are several lifestyle choices that individuals can make to help reduce breast cancer risk including decreasing daily fat intake (especially saturated and hydrogenated), increase fiber, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol, staying active and not smoking.
Some women and men may be born with a change in one or two genes that are important for regulating breast cell growth. Those who inherit an alteration in the BRCA1 or BRAC2 gene are at an inherited higher risk for breast cancer.
You are never too young to develop breast cancer! Breast Self-Exam should begin by the age of twenty.
