Did you know that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer for women? Since breast cancer is so common, it makes sense to learn more about it. Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of breast cells. Here are 10 more facts about breast cancer that you might not already know.
Breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women
99% of breast cancer cases occur in women. This means that while breast cancer in men is very rare, it does occur.
Hundreds of thousands of women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
The American Cancer Society estimates that 252,710 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2017. There will also be 63,410 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.
Second leading cause of cancer-related death
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women. Lung cancer is number one.
Over 3 million breast cancer survivors
There are more than 3 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Early detection is key as it greatly increases cancer survival rates. With early detection, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is nearly 100%.
Risk increases with age
A woman’s risk for developing breast cancer increases as she gets older.
The chances for developing breast cancer
12% of women – or 1 in 8 – develop breast cancer. Lifetime breast cancer risk for men is 1 in 1,000.
Family history increases your risk
A woman’s risk for developing breast cancer almost doubles if her mother, sister, or daughter has breast cancer. Take our Breast Cancer Risk Quiz to learn more about your risk.
You can decrease your risk
Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but there things such as diet, exercise, and other healthy lifestyle choices that can help decrease your risk for developing breast cancer.
Symptoms aren’t the same for everyone
Breast cancer warning signs and breast cancer symptoms can vary greatly. However, don’t assume that you are cancer free because you do not have the typical symptoms. Some women with breast cancer don’t have symptoms at all. This makes regular breast cancer screenings especially important.
Mammograms save lives
Mammograms are proven to reduce the rate of death from breast cancer. The Breast Center recommends annual screening mammograms for women starting at age 40. Contact the Breast Center today to discuss screening options.