Breast Cancer Facts - 12 Facts about Breast Cancer
The following 12 breast cancer facts offer some quick information about the illness:
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer for UK women;
- Self exams should begin as early as possible - young women do suffer and can die from breast cancer too;
- 90% of breast cancers are discovered as lumps in the breast;
- Treatment may involve radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, hormone blocking drugs or a combination of these;
- The size of your particular tumour and whether or not you have undergone the menopause will help determine the treatments you are offered;
- Most breast lumps are non-cancerous; fibrocystic breast disease and fibroadenoma are benign (ie harmless) breast conditions;
- Breast cancer is not confined to just females; men can suffer from breast cancer too;
- Risk of breast cancer increases with age;
- The majority of breast cancer cases occur in women over the age of 50;
- Breast cancer is usuallly detected during a routine mammogram before it is possible to feel it or notice other symptoms. early detection offers the best chances for survival so it is important to self-examine monthly and to have annual mammograms after the age of 40;
- Your risk of breast cancer is determined by lots of factors including: inheriting faulty genes from either parent; delaying your first pregnancy beyond the age of 3; never experiencing pregnancy; early onset of periods; late onset of menopause; daily alcohol intake; atypical hyperplasia; use of oral contraceptives either currently or within the last 10 years;
- 96% of women whose cancer is discovered and treated early will be free from cancer after 5 years.
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Further Information
For further information and breast cancer support, please visit Macmillan Org
