frequently asked questions & statistics

What is breast cancer?

What causes breast cancer?

Can breast cancer be prevented?

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

What are the key statistics about breast cancer?

What are the current trends in breast cancer mortality and survival?

What is the incidence of breast cancer in younger women?

At what age should I begin to examine my breasts?

How often should I have my breasts examined by a health provider?

At what age should I have an annual mammogram?

Do young women have a different type of breast cancer than older women?

What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Why is it recommended that women under age 40 not get regular mammograms?

Are mammograms safe?

What is Lymphedema?



What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the result of cells in the breast becoming malignant and developing into a tumor. Although the disease occurs mostly in women, men can get breast cancer, but the occurrence is rare.
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What causes breast cancer?
We do not know yet what causes breast cancer. Researchers are working hard to discover why and how certain changes in DNA can cause normal breast cells to become cancerous, and to unlock the secret to understanding the genetic basis of breast cancer.
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Can breast cancer be prevented?
There is no certain way. However, women can learn the risk factors (see below) and promote early detection with regular breast self-exams, clinical check-ups and mammograms.
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What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

• The highest risk factors are being female and aging
• Menstrual history�if you began menstruating before age 12, or completed menopause after age 55
• Family history�if you have a mother, sister or daughter who has had the disease, or a close relative, such as a cousin or an aunt with a history of breast cancer
• Oral contraceptives�slight increased risk if you are currently using the pill, or have used it in the last 10 years
• Children�if you have never had children or had your first child after age 30
• Alcohol�if you consume one or more alcoholic drinks a day
• Being overweight�especially after menopause
• Chest radiation therapy�if you had this as a child or young adult
• Genetic mutations�if you carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
• High breast tissue density�a mammographic measure of the amount of glandular tissue relative to fatty tissue in the breast
• Post menopausal hormone therapy�increased risk with combined estrogen and progestin therapy
• Physical inactivity

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What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

• A new lump or mass
• A hard mass that has irregular edges and is painless is more likely to be cancerous. (Cancers can sometimes be tender, soft and rounded, although it is rare.)
• A discharge, other than breast milk
• Redness or pain in the nipple, or on the breast skin
• Retraction of the nipple (turning inward)
• Swelling of the breast that is generalized with no distinct lump

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What are the key statistics about breast cancer?

• In 2008, the American Cancer Society estimates that 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer (Stages I-IV) will be diagnosed among women in the United States, with 40,480 deaths.
• There will be approximately 67,770 new cases of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ, Stage 0), the non-invasive, earliest form of breast cancer.
• Incidence rates for female breast cancer dropped from 2001 through 2004. This decline is possibly related to a drop in the use of hormone replacement therapy as well as the recently reported drop in screening mammography.
  Note: In new research reported in April 2008, the NCI reports that while the rate of invasive breast cancer decreased significantly in Caucasian women by the end of 2003, the incidence rates did not change significantly for African American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, or Asian American/Pacific Islander women. It is thought that the widespread discontinuance of the menopausal hormone use had a greater effect on Caucasians. >>read more
• In men, the ACS estimates 1,990 new cases in 2008, with 450 deaths.
• Breast Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
• Approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancers can be attributed to genetic predisposition; 20% to 30% of women with breast cancer have a family member with the disease.
• Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women (excluding skin cancer). Worldwide, more than a million cases of breast cancer will be detected each year, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France.
• In her lifetime, 1 out of 8 women will develop breast cancer.
• One out of 210 breast cancer cases occur in women under the age of 40.
• Overall breast cancer incidence rates are lower in African-American women than in white women. However, African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer.
• Asian, Hispanic and American Indian women have a significantly lower risk of breast cancer incidence and mortality.
  
• >> ACS Cancer Facts and Figures, 2008

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What are the current trends in breast cancer mortality and survival?

• >>Read the 2007 American Cancer Society report on the drop in overall cancer deaths for the second straight year!
• The 5-year survival rate has increased by 12% over the past 30 years, and by 4.6% over the last decade alone.
• In women whose breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage and is localized, 98% survive more than 5 years.
• For all stages of breast cancer, the 5-year survival rate is 89%.
• Breast cancer incidence rates showed a rapid increase in the 1980s, although the rate of increase slowed in the 1990s compared to the 1980s. In the years from 2000 to 2004, incidence rates decreased slightly.
• The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about 1 in 35 (about 3%).
• Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.
• Currently, there are 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

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What is the incidence of breast cancer in younger women?
The number of younger women getting breast cancer has been stable in the last 10 years, and the mortality rate in young women has declined, probably due to early detection and improved treatments. While only 4 to 5% of women under 40 will develop breast cancer, 1 in every 227 women between the ages of 30 and 40 will be diagnosed.
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At what age should I begin to examine my breasts?
Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast changes promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam is an option for women, starting in their 20's. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. It is acceptable for women to choose not to do BSE or to do it occasionally. Visit MayoClinic.com for more information on screening and BSE.
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How often should I have my breasts examined by a health provider?
A clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam, about every three years for women in their 20's and 30's, and every year for women 40 and older.
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At what age should I have an annual mammogram?
Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40, and continuing for a long as a woman is in good health. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mammography rates among women 40 and older significantly declined from 76.4% in 2000 to 74.6% in 2005. The report states that the decline suggests a need for more careful monitoring because mammography screening every one to two years can significantly reduce breast cancer mortality. Visit MayoClinic.com for more information on mammography.
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Do young women have a different type of breast cancer than older women?
No. However, according to the Young Survival Coalition, because young women typically have dense breast tissue, a mammogram is not always the best diagnostic tool for them. For this reason, and because dense breasts also make it more difficult to feel a lump, it is crucial that women ages 20 and older become familiar with their breasts and make sure they get regular clinical exams.
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What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?
Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of breast cancer in which the breast looks red and swollen, and feels warm. The skin of the breast may also show the pitted appearance called peau d'orange (like the skin of an orange). The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin. Symptoms can also include a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area, a change in the size or shape of the breast, nipple discharge or tenderness, or the nipple pulled back (inversion) into the breast.
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Why is it recommended that women under age 40 not get regular mammograms?
The breasts of young women contain many glands and ligaments, which appear dense on a mammogram. This radiologic density makes it more difficult to spot tumors, or to tell cancerous conditions. With age, the glandular and fibrous tissues of the breast gradually give way to fatty tissue. Because fatty tissue has less radiologic density, mammograms can more easily �see� into the breast tissue and detect abnormal changes.

Although mammograms are not generally recommended as part of regular screening for women under age 40, women at increased risk (family history, genetic tendency, past breast cancer) should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of starting mammography screening earlier, having additional tests (such as breast ultrasound and MRI), or having more frequent exams. In 1985, only about 20% of women were estimated to have had mammograms in the prior two years. By 2000, this figure had increased to 70%.
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Are mammograms safe?
Yes. Over ten years ago, radiation dosage was significantly higher than it is now, so women had grounds for concern about the safety of mammograms. Today�s specialized mammography units produce better, more accurate images with a considerably lower x-ray dose than the general purpose x-rays previously used. Since 1994, all U.S. mammography facilities must be certified by the FDA to ensure uniform quality of procedures and a safe level of radiation dosage.
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What is Lymphedema?
Women who have been treated for breast cancer may be at risk for lymphedema, or arm swelling. The swelling can range from mild to severe, and it can develop soon after surgery or radiation treatment, or many months or even years later. Additional information about lymphedema can be found on the American Cancer Society web site (www.cancer.org) --go to the breast cancer resource center and search for Lymphedema.
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Primary Source: American Cancer Society