Tell me more about Breast Cancer
Who's at risk for breast cancer, and what are the major risk factors?
Get ready for this one ladies; simply being female, and getting older puts you at the greatest risk for breast cancer. Did you know that only 15% of all cases occur in families with a history of breast carcinoma? That leaves 85% to occur within those of us without any family history of breast cancer, (still feel confident that you don't need your recommended mammogram?!) Nevertheless, if you have a family history, especially in a first-degree relative, (mom, daughter, or sister), and they were premenopausal, you are at significantly increased risk. If you personally have been diagnosed with breast cancer, you are more likely to be diagnosed again before someone else in the general population. Some of the more minor risks associated with breast cancer include: young age of onset of menses/ periods; late age of menopause; bearing your first child after the age of 30; being "over-fat", (this means too high a percentage of body fat, not simply being overweight); excessive alcohol use…
What are some of the signs you should be looking for? A painless lump is the
number one physical presentation. However, sometimes a cancer does not read the textbook on how
it should present, and so occasionally there will be a lump with pain, or simply new pain
without any other accompanying sign or symptom.
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Breast Cancer Facts and Figures
This article is written in October of 2004, and reflects the current available statistics. The
following are facts and figures related to breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer occurring in females excluding skin cancer. It is the
second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer. It is the number one cause of
cancer deaths in females aged 40-55.
There is estimated to be approximately 216,000 invasive female breast cancers in the USA this
year, and approximately 40,110 will die. In addition, there will be approximately 59,400 cases
of DCIS/(Ductal Carcinoma In Situ) in the U.S. this year, as well. (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
is actually a collection of cancer cells that has remained where it originally formed, and has
not "invaded" into the surrounding tissue.)
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