Breast Cancer

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Breast cancer is the second-deadliest cancer among American women (after lung cancer), and the incidence and death rates of breast cancer increase with age. Early detection with regular mammograms remains the single most effective way for combating the disease, other than adopting a healthier lifestyle. When detected early when the tumor is small and before it spreads, women with breast cancer have a very high long term survival rate. Progress in both earlier detection and improved treatments are resulting in higher survival rates, which have been steadily increasing since 1990. Among women younger than 50, death rates have decreased by 3.2 percent per year and in those 50 and older by 2 percent each year.

Learn More About Breast Cancer

Statistics

• In the United States, one in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during her lifetime.
• During 2009, 192,370 new cases of breast cancer in women and 1,910 cases of breast cancer in men are expected to be diagnosed in the United States.
• In 2009, 40,170 women and 440 men are expected to die from breast cancer in the United States.
• Nationally, the rate of women age 40 and older receiving mammograms decreased from 70.1 percent in 2000 to 66.4 percent in 2005.
• In Texas, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women.

Risk Factors

• Age: Age is the most important factor affecting breast cancer risk. Most cases of breast cancer occur in women over age 40.
• Family History: Women with immediate family members (grandmother, mother, or sister) who have had breast cancer are at a greater risk of developing the disease. If you have a family history of cancer, genetic testing may point to preventative measures.
• Diet: Overweight women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Symptoms

The signs for breast cancer are not the same for all women. In fact, some women show no signs at all. If any of the following symptoms or signs are present, women are encouraged to consult their physician immediately for proper testing:

Prevention

• Screening
  • Self-Exams: Women should begin monthly breast self-exams in their 20s. Any changes in their breasts should be reported to a doctor immediately.
  • Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam every three years, and women over the age of 40 should have annual mammograms. Mammograms can detect breast cancer at an early stage when treatment may be more effective and more treatment options are available. Mammograms detect 80 to 90 percent of breast cancer in women without symptoms.
• Lifestyle
  • Regular exercise may decrease the risk of breast cancer. Exercise reduces estrogen levels, fights obesity, lowers insulin levels, and boosts the function of immune system cells that attack tumors.
  • Limit your consumption of alcohol. Studies show that high levels of alcohol can increase the risk of breast cancer.
  • Since obesity can further complicate breast cancer, maintain a healthy body weight.
• Higher Risk
  • Women and men who are BRCA-positive should discuss preventive mastectomy, and women who are BRCA-positive should discuss drug/hormone therapies with their physicians as options that may reduce breast cancer risk.

Treatment Options

Anyone with breast cancer should consult with a medical oncologist to determine their specific treatment needs. There are two main types of breast cancer treatment: local and systemic. Surgery and radiation therapy are local treatments. Chemotherapy and hormone therapy are systemic therapies. Local and systemic treatments are often used together to provide the best chance of disease control.

Sources: American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Texas Department of State Health Services
Updated 09/28/09