The Facts About Breast Cancer

The Facts About Breast Cancer PINK PERFECT What is Breast Cancer? Breast cancer is a group of cancer cells, called a malignant tumor, that starts in the cells of the breast. The malignant tumor can invade the surrounding tissues or spread to distant areas of the body. 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Women over 50 are more likely to get breast cancer than younger women. The most significant risk factors of breast cancer are Each vear, over 220,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with breast There are currently over 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. advancing age and a family history of breast cancer. cancer. Detecting Breast Cancer When breast cancer is detected early, in the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 98%. Axis 1 (98%) Axis 2 (2%) The best way to fight cancer is to develop a plan that helps vou detect the disease early on. Your early detection plan will remind you to perform breast self- exams, clinical breast exams and mammograms based on your age and health history. 1 Breast Self-Exams Breast self-exams help vou familiarize vourself with how your breasts look and feel, so vou can detect any changes and alert vour healthcare provider right away. Adult women of all ages should perform a breast self-exam once a month. Mammograms A mammogram is an x-ray that allows a healthcare specialist to examine the breast tissue. Mammograms can detect a breast lump before vou can feel or see it. Women ages 40 and above should have mammograms every 1 to 2 years. Women under 40 who have risk factors for breast cancer should consult their healthcare professional about how often they should have mammograms. Clinical Breast Exams Clinical breast exams are performed by a healthcare professional who is trained to detect many different abnormalities and warning signs of breast cancer. They are typically performed by vour family physician or gynecologist at vour regular medical check-up. It is recommended that women ages 20 and above receive annual clinical breast exams. Pink-Perfect.com (1) 646 415-9120 Sources: http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org, http:/www.cancer.org, http://www.earlydetectionplan.org/, http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer 3