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Breast Cancer
ABOUT BREAST CANCER
The Statistics:
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among U.S. women ages 40-55, and is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths. During the year 2000, 182,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 43,300 women will die of breast cancer. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. Web site At present, one woman in eight either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. Web site "Early Detection is your Best Protection"
If detected early, breast cancer has a five-year survival rate of over 95%. Early detection is the key to survival. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the more options a woman has for effective treatment and survival. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. Web site A screening mammogram is the best option for detecting breast cancer early -- before symptoms appear. Mammograms reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute recommends that women in their forties and older have mammograms every one to two years. Almost 13 million women in the U.S. are 40 years old or older and have never had a mammogram. A mammogram is a simple x-ray of the breast. An average mammogram appointment takes 20 minutes to a half hour; the mammogram itself takes only a few seconds. It is important for women to perform monthly breast self-examinations and to have a clinical breast examination by a trained medical professional. Risk Factors:
Women with family histories of breast cancer at greater risk for getting the disease. If detected early, breast cancer has a five-year survival rate of over 95%. All women are at risk for breast cancer, regardless of ethnicity or age. Being a woman is the greatest risk. Age increases risk. Seventy percent of women with breast cancer have no known risk factors. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. Web site The risk of breast cancer increases gradually as a woman gets older. All women age 40 and older are at risk for breast cancer. However, most breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, and the risk is especially high for women over age 60. Cancernet, National Cancer Institute Treatment:
There are four stages of breast cancer*: Stage 1: The tumor is in a breast and is usually less than one inch across.Stage 2: The tumor is less than 1 inch across and possibly now involves the underarm lymph nodes.Stage 3: The tumor is larger than 2 inches and has now extended to the chest wall or more lymph nodes.Stage 4: The metastatic cancer has spread to other parts of the body.*Cancernet, National Cancer Institute
Treatment for breast cancer usually includes one or more of the following: Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapy. Side effects for treatment include**: Surgery: Pain, tenderness Weight out of balance Numbness/tingling Radiation: Fatigue Skin irritation Chemotherapy: Hair loss Loss of appetite Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Mouth sores Hormonal Therapy: Hot flashes Irregular periods Blood clots **Cancernet, National Cancer Institute