The most common cancer in women is breast cancer with almost one-third of all new cancers in women being diagnosed as breast cancer.
SIGNS and SYMPTOMS of breast cancer include:
- a non-painful lump located in the breast but sometimes in the armpit
- discharge from the nipple
- dimpling of the skin or
- an abnormal density seen on a mammogram
The RISK of breast cancer increases with age. Forty-eight percent of new breast cancer occurs in women over the age of 65. In addition, the risk is higher in women who have the following conditions:
- a personal or family history of breast cancer
- a typical hyperplasia
- early beginning of menstruation or late menopause
- recent use of oral contraceptives or postmenopausal estrogens and progestins
- never having children or having the first live birth after age 30 and
- obesity after menopause
The best opportunity for reducing death from breast cancer is through EARLY DETECTION. If breast cancer is found early, before it can spread, it can be treated with an 80-90 percent 5-year survival rate. A CLINICAL BREAST EXAM by a healthcare provider should be done every 2 to 3 years for women aged 20 to 39 years and annually for women 40 years and older.
Screening for breast cancer using MAMMOGRAPHY is recommended every year for women ages 40 and older. Mammography may be appropriate for women under 40 years of age who are at increased risk for breast cancer. All women aged 20 and older should regularly examine their breasts for new lumps or tender areas once a month. Any changes should be reported to her healthcare provider.
EVALUATION of the lump found in the breast may include an ultrasound or biopsy, where a small piece of tissue is removed. The tissue is sent to the laboratory for evaluation and diagnosis. Other tests may be done to determine how to treat the abnormal lump.
TREATMENT options include:
- lumpectomy - local removal of the tumor and removal of the lymph nodes under the arm
- mastectomy - surgical removal of the breast and removal of the lymph nodes under the arm
- radiation therapy
- chemotherapy and
- hormone therapy
Frequently two or more methods are used in combination.
To learn more about breast cancer, you can call the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345 or the National Cancer Institute at (800) 4-CANCER.
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