Breast Cancer: Are You at Risk?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, other than skin cancer.  It's also the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer.  The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about 1 in 8 (13% of women). Women living in North America have the highest rate of breast cancer in the world. In 2005, about 40,110 women and 470 men will die from breast cancer in the United States. To help you better understand Breast Cancer, listed  below are some symptoms, risk and preventative factors:

Know the symptoms:                                     

Any lump or thickening in the breast or armpit

Any flattening or indentation of the breast skin

Any puckering, pitting, or dimpling of the breast skin

Any change in the position, size or color of the breast

Clear or bloody nipple discharge

A retracted nipple

Redness of the breast skin     

Know the risk factors:                              

Having a Mother, Grandmother, Sister or Aunt with breast cancer

Having a history of Hyperplasia (atypical cell growth)                         

Menstruation before age 12

Menopause after age 55

Never giving birth or giving birth first after age 35

Eating a high-fat diet

Tobacco Use

Know Ways to Reduce your risk:

Performing a monthly breast self-examination

Having mammograms annually after age 40     

Eating a low-fat diet

Quit smoking

**The third Friday in October each year is National Mammography Day, first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1993. On this day, or throughout the month, we encourage women to make a mammography appointment. In 2005, National Mammography Day will be celebrated on October 21. **

By knowing your risks and looking for symptoms, you can fight breast cancer. Remember:  Early detection is the best protection!