Breast Health

Breast cancer is a type of cancer where cells in the breast tissue divide and grow without the usual controls on cell death and cell division.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women.

The signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women. In fact, some women have no signs that they can see. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should see a doctor right away:

  • A lump, hard knot or thickening
  • Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
  • Change in breast size or shape
  • Dimpling or puckering of the skin
  • Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
  • Pulling in of your nipple or other parts
  • Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
  • New pain in one spot

An estimated 212,920 new invasive cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2006. An estimated 40,940 women will die from breast cancer. It is estimated that 1,720 men will be diagnosed and 460 men will die of breast cancer during 2006. 7070 Michigan women will be diagnosed, and 1,360 will die. Breast cancer is the leading cancer site among American women and is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among women ages 40-59.

Risk factors

All women are at risk for breast cancer. The two most significant risk factors are being female and getting older. The majority of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no other known risk factors. There are some risk factors you can control, and others you cannot. Remember, even if you do not have any of these risk factors, you can still develop breast cancer.

Factors you can control

  • having more than one drink of alcohol per day
  • being overweight after menopause or gaining weight as an adult
  • taking birth control pills for 5 years or longer (which can slightly increase your risk for breast cancer)
  • never having children
  • having your first child after age 30
  • currently or recently using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for 5 years or longer
  • being exposed to large amounts of radiation, such as having very frequent spine x-rays during scoliosis treatment or radiation treatment for Hodgkin's disease at a young age

Factors you cannot control

  • getting older — the older you get, the greater your risk of breast cancer
  • a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
  • having a mother, daughter or sister who has had breast cancer
  • having a previous biopsy showing atypical hyperplasia or carcinoma in situ
  • being young (<12 years) at the time of your first period
  • starting menopause after age 55
  • having a mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer genes

For more information on these topics contact: 1-877-GO-KOMEN (1-877-465-6636) or www.komen.org


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