10 Important Facts about Breast Cancer

Did you know that breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women? You may be surprised to learn some of these important facts about breast cancer.

1. 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.
2. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the 2nd leading cause of cancer death among women.
3. The American Cancer Society, the American Society of Breast Disease, the American College of Radiology, and the Society of Breast Imaging all recommend yearly screening mammograms beginning at age 40.
4. For every 1000 women who undergo screening mammograms, 100 are recalled for extra imaging. Of those 100 women, 81 return to screening in 1 year or have another imaging study in 6 months. 19 undergo a minimally invasive biopsy. 5 are diagnosed with breast cancer.
5. Early detection saves lives. Screening mammograms are proven to find a large percentage of breast cancers before they can be felt.
6. Catching breast cancers when they are small means the cancer is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body, so treatments are more effective and less harmful. There are 30-40% fewer breast cancer-related deaths among women who receive screening mammograms versus women who do not receive screening mammograms.
7. A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer almost doubles if her mother, sister, or daughter has breast cancer. 
8. Breast cancer disproportionately impacts minorities. In 2010, breast cancer mortality rates were 41% higher among African-American women than non-Hispanic white women.
9. There are over 3 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. Because of early detection, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is nearly 100%.
10. You can decrease your risk of developing breast cancer by making multiple healthier lifestyle choices including diet, exercise, and smoking cessation.