Breast cancer

Breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, other than skin cancer, and the second deadliest cancer in U.S. women; lung cancer is the deadliest. Approximately 182,460 cases of invasive breast cancer were diagnosed in 2008, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Though an estimated 40,480 women will die from breast cancer, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., according to the ACS.

There is no known way to prevent breast cancer. But there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of breast cancer. Certain drugs have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer in high-risk women. Talk to your healthcare provider to determine if you are at high risk for breast cancer and, if so, if medication might help reduce your risk.

Also, you have a much better prognosis if you can find and treat breast cancer early. To do that, follow this advice:

  • At age 40 for women at an average risk of breast cancer, begin having screening mammograms every year.
  • For women at high risk of breast cancer, starting at age 30 or an age determined by your health care professional, begin having annual screening mammograms together with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • To make sure you get the best possible mammogram, look for the FDA certificate, which should be prominently displayed at the facility. Facilities not meeting FDA requirements may not lawfully perform mammography.
  • If you're in your 20s and 30s and at an average risk, have your health care professional examine your breasts at least once every three years and annually thereafter.
  • Become familiar with how your breasts feel and what is "normal" for you; examine your breasts periodically and see a health care professional if you feel or see any changes that don't go away after one menstrual cycle.
  • Eat a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, maintain your ideal body weight, exercise regularly, and drink in moderation, if at all. A University of Washington (Seattle) study found that exercise and lack of obesity in adolescence significantly delayed the onset of breast cancer, including onset in high-risk women who carried genetic mutations for the disease.
  • Engage in frequent and regular physical exercise. Some studies suggest it may reduce your breast cancer risk.

(This information was provided by HealthyWomen. For more information on breast cancer, click here. HealthyWomen is an NCWO affiliate.)

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