What Breast Cancer Is
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women, second to lung cancer. Breast cancer incidence rates have decreased by 2.2% per year between 1999 and 2005. This may be due to a combination of less mammography utilization and the decrease in hormone replacement therapy.
Currently there is no known prevention for breast cancer. However, earlier detection with yearly screening mammography and better treatments has produced a significant decline in breast cancer deaths; 27% decline from 1990 – 2005.
Facts About Breast Cancer
Following are some facts about breast cancer:
- The chance of a woman developing invasive breast cancer during her lifetime, 20 – 80 years old, is 1 in 8.
- The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age.
- Approximately 192,370 new invasive breast cancer cases are expected in 2009.
- There is an expected 62,280 new cases of duct carcinoma in situ in 2009.
- Men can develop breast cancer; male incidence is 1:100 of female rate.
- Caucasian women are more likely to develop breast cancer than women of any other race.
- African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than Caucasian women.
- About 5% of breast cancer is caused by a specific gene mutation that can be passed on in families, BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes.
- Early detection leads to the most successful treatment.