n estimated 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2007. Approximately 40,460 women will die from breast cancer in 2007. Breast cancer is the most common site of cancer in women and the second-leading cause of cancer death in women.
2. The five-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer has increased from 72 percent in the 1940s to 98 percent today. If the cancer has spread regionally, however, the rate is 81 percent, and for women with cancer that has spread to distant parts of the body, the rate is 26 percent.
3. Survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer continues to decline beyond five years. Ten-year survival and beyond is also stage- dependent, with the best survival observed in women with early- stage disease.
4. Well-known estrogen-related risks for developing breast cancer include early menstruation (at age 12 or younger); late menopause (after age 55); and no full-term pregnancy or first child after age 30.
5. More than 80 percent of biopsied breast abnormalities are noncancerous, but any breast lump must be evaluated by a physician. New, less invasive biopsy procedures permit removal of breast tissue in a physician or radiologist's office.
6. Sometimes more than one mammogram may be necessary to evaluate an abnormality. Common reasons for additional mammograms include film views that are unclear and/or different views requested by the radiologist.
7. Some mammography centers are able to provide immediate interpretation of your mammogram. This service can help prevent anxiety caused by waiting days to hear your results. Any additional films required also can be taken during the same visit.
8. The annual risk of a 70-year-old woman being diagnosed with breast cancer in the next 10 years is two to three times that of a 40-year-old woman, and she has about four times the risk of dying from breast cancer in the next 10 years.
9. Some breast cancer cases are the result of a mutation in the BRCA 1 or 2 genes, which can be inherited from a family member. Hereditary breast cancer makes up approximately five to 10 percent of all breast cancer. Some altered genes related to breast cancer are more common in certain ethnic groups. Women who have an altered gene related to breast cancer and who have had breast cancer in one breast have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the other breast. These women also have an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, and may have an increased risk of developing other cancers.
10. Different types of treatment are available for patients with breast cancer. Some treatments are standard, and some are being tested in clinical trials. The four types of standard treatment currently used are surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
Get more information on breast cancer:
Questions to Ask
This content was provided by National Women's Health Resource Center