Breast Cancer Facts

Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among  women in the United States. More than 180,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

What is Cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases that occur when cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. Each organ in the body is made up of various kinds of cells. Cells normally divide in an orderly way to produce more cells only when they are needed. This process helps keep the body in good health. If cells divide when new cells are not needed, they form too much tissue. This extra tissue, called a tumor, can be benign or malignant. Eighty percent of all breast tumors are benign.

Benign tumors are not cancer.
The cells in benign tumors do not invade other tissues and do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign breast tumors are not a threat to life.

Malignant tumors are cancer.
The cancer cells grow and divide out of control, invading and damaging nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away from the original tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This is how breast cancer spreads and forms secondary tumors in other parts of the body. This spread is called metastasis.

The breast consist of lobes, lobules, and bulbs that are connected by ducts. The breast also contains blood and lymph vessels. These lymph vessels lead to structures that are called lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found under the arm, above the collarbone, in the chest, and in other parts of the body. Together, the lymph vessels and lymph nodes make up the lymphatic system, which circulates a fluid called lymph throughout the body. Lymph contains cells that help fight infection and disease.

When breast cancer spreads outside the breast, cancer cells are most often found under the arm in the lymph nodes. In  many cases, if the cancer has reached the lymph nodes, cancer cells may have also spread to other parts of the body via the lymphatic system or through the blood stream.

What are your chances of getting breast cancer?
A report from the national Cancer Institute (NCI) estimates that approximately (1 in 8)

This estimate is based on data from NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER) publication SEER CANCER STATISTICS REVIEW 1973-1997 and is based on cancer rates from 1995 through 1997. This figure includes all age groups in 5-year intervals up to an open-ended interval of 85 years and over. Each age interval is assigned a weight in the calculations based on the proportion of the population living to that age.

If current rates stay consistent, the 1 in 8 figure means, a female born today has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer sometime during her life. On other hand, she has a 7 in 8 chance of never developing the disease. Because calculations are weighted, they take into account that not all women live to older ages, when breast cancer risk becomes the greatest. A woman's chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer is: * 

by age 30:	1 out of 2,000
by age 40:	1 out of 233
by age 50:	1 out of 53
by age 60:	1 out of 22
by age 70:	1 out of 13
by age 80:	1 out of 9
ever.......	1 out of 8

* Source: National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program, 1995-1997

Are some more at risk than others?

Family history
Some individuals, both women and men, may be born with an "alteration" (or change) in one of two genes that are important for regulating breast cell growth. Individuals who inherit an alteration in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene are at an "inherited" higher risk of breast cancer. They also may pass this alteration on to their children. It is very rare, scientist estimate that only 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers are due to genetic changes. One out of two women with these changes are likely to develop breast cancer. Women with a family history of breast cancer are encouraged to speak to a genetics counselor to determine the pros and cons of genetic testing.

Having an early first period.
Women who begin menstruating before age 12 are at increased risk of developing breast cancer. The more menstrual cycles a woman has over her lifetime, the more likely she is to get the disease.

Having a first pregnancy after age 25 or 30.
Although early pregnancies may help lower the chances of getting breast cancer, particularly before the age 25, these same hormonal changes after age 35 may contribute to the incidence of breast cancer.

Having no children.
Woman who experience continuos menstrual cycles until menopause are at a higher risk than average.

Healthy life style choices

Poor diet, insufficient physical activity, alcohol use and smoking may affect breast cancer. A few lifestyle decisions not only help keep our cells healthy in the fight against breast cancer but also help prevent heart disease, diabetes and other chronic life-threatening conditions.

Decrease your daily fat intake.	Especially  saturated or hydrogenated fats. Eat leaner meats and limit red meat. Reducing your fat intake helps prevent other health problems, such as heart disease and stroke, and may reduce your chance of developing breast and colon cancers.
Increase fiber in your diet.	Fiber is found in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. This type is beneficial for your heart and can help prevent other cancers, such as colon cancer.
Eat fresh fruits and vegetables.	In addition to their fiber content, fruits and vegetables have antioxidant properties and micronutrients that may help prevent some cancers.
Limit alcohol.	Evidence suggests that a small increase in risk exist for woman who average two or more drinks per day (beer, wine, and distilled liquor.)
Stay active.	The U.S. Surgeon General recently reported that you can help prevent health problems by engaging in a moderate amount of physical activity (such as taking a brisk, 30-minute walk) on most days of the week. Strive to maintain the body weight recommended by a health professional, since excess fat may stimulate estrogen production.
Don't smoke	Although smoking doesn't cause breast cancer, it can increase the chance of blood clots, heart disease, and other cancers that may spread to the breast.

Visit your health care provider for annual breast exams, and discuss the benefits of a mammogram. Don't forget to do monthly self breast exams and to see your health care provider if you notice any lumps or breast changes.

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