Knowledge is Power
What is breast cancer?
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer starts in the breast, it is called breast cancer. The breast is made up of three main parts: glands, ducts, and connective tissue.
Sometimes breast cells become abnormal and grow faster than normal cells. These extra cells form a mass called a tumor. Some tumors are “benign,” or not cancerous. Other tumors are “malignant,” meaning they are cancerous and have the ability to spread to other parts of the breast and body and disrupt normal functions in those areas.
Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer starts in the breast, it is called breast cancer. The breast is made up of three main parts: glands, ducts, and connective tissue.
Sometimes breast cells become abnormal and grow faster than normal cells. These extra cells form a mass called a tumor. Some tumors are “benign,” or not cancerous. Other tumors are “malignant,” meaning they are cancerous and have the ability to spread to other parts of the breast and body and disrupt normal functions in those areas.
What are the symptoms?
When breast cancer starts out, it is too small to feel and does not cause signs and symptoms. As it grows, however, breast cancer
can cause changes in how the breast looks or feels. Symptoms may include:
• A new lump in the breast.
• A lump that has changed.
• A change in the size or shape
of the breast.
• Pain in the breast or nipple that does not go away.
• Flaky, red, or swollen skin anywhere on the breast.
• A nipple that is very tender or
that suddenly turns inward.
• Blood or any other type of fluid coming from the nipple that is not milk when nursing a baby.
If you have any of these symptoms, talk to a health care professional. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only
way to know is to see a health
care professional.
When breast cancer starts out, it is too small to feel and does not cause signs and symptoms. As it grows, however, breast cancer
can cause changes in how the breast looks or feels. Symptoms may include:
• A new lump in the breast.
• A lump that has changed.
• A change in the size or shape
of the breast.
• Pain in the breast or nipple that does not go away.
• Flaky, red, or swollen skin anywhere on the breast.
• A nipple that is very tender or
that suddenly turns inward.
• Blood or any other type of fluid coming from the nipple that is not milk when nursing a baby.
If you have any of these symptoms, talk to a health care professional. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but the only
way to know is to see a health
care professional.
Who gets breast cancer?
All women are at risk for breast cancer. Men can also get breast cancer, but this is rare. Not counting skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of all combined major racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
Among Hispanic women, it is the most common cause of death from cancer, and it is the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native women.
In 2005, (the most recent year for which statistics are available), 186,467 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 41,116 women died from the disease.† Although more white women get breast cancer, more black women die from it.
† U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2005 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2009.
All women are at risk for breast cancer. Men can also get breast cancer, but this is rare. Not counting skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of all combined major racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
Among Hispanic women, it is the most common cause of death from cancer, and it is the second most common cause of death from cancer among white, black, Asian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native women.
In 2005, (the most recent year for which statistics are available), 186,467 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 41,116 women died from the disease.† Although more white women get breast cancer, more black women die from it.
† U.S. Cancer Statistics Working Group. United States Cancer Statistics: 1999–2005 Incidence and Mortality Web-based Report. Atlanta (GA): Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Cancer Institute; 2009.
What raises a woman’s
chance of getting breast
cancer?
There are several factors that may affect your risk of developing breast cancer.
These include:
• Getting older.
• Not having children, or having your first child later in life.
• Starting your first menstrual period at an early age.
• Beginning menopause at a
late age.
• Having a personal history of
breast cancer or certain benign breast diseases, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia.
• Having close family relatives
(such as a mother, sister, father, or daughter) who have had breast cancer.
• Having a genetic condition, such as certain mutations in your BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes
.
• Having been treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest.
• Being overweight, particularly
after menopause.
• Using hormone replacement therapy for a long time.
• Using oral contraceptives.
• Drinking alcohol.
• Being physically inactive.
There are several factors that may affect your risk of developing breast cancer.
These include:
• Getting older.
• Not having children, or having your first child later in life.
• Starting your first menstrual period at an early age.
• Beginning menopause at a
late age.
• Having a personal history of
breast cancer or certain benign breast diseases, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia.
• Having close family relatives
(such as a mother, sister, father, or daughter) who have had breast cancer.
• Having a genetic condition, such as certain mutations in your BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes
.
• Having been treated with radiation therapy to the breast or chest.
• Being overweight, particularly
after menopause.
• Using hormone replacement therapy for a long time.
• Using oral contraceptives.
• Drinking alcohol.
• Being physically inactive.
How can I prevent it?
Scientists are studying how best to prevent breast cancer. Ways to help you lower your risk of getting breast cancer include the following:
• Stay physically active by getting regular exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or find out the risks and benefits of HRT and if it is right for you.
• Limit the amount of alcohol that
you drink.
Scientists are studying how best to prevent breast cancer. Ways to help you lower your risk of getting breast cancer include the following:
• Stay physically active by getting regular exercise.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid using hormone replacement therapy (HRT), or find out the risks and benefits of HRT and if it is right for you.
• Limit the amount of alcohol that
you drink.
Source: www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast
For more information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
1-800-CDC-INFO or www.cdc.gov/cancer
National Cancer Institute:
1-800-4-CANCER or www.cancer.gov
American Cancer Society:
1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org
People Living with Cancer/American Society of Clinical Oncology:
1-888-651-3038 or www.plwc.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
1-800-CDC-INFO or www.cdc.gov/cancer
National Cancer Institute:
1-800-4-CANCER or www.cancer.gov
American Cancer Society:
1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org
People Living with Cancer/American Society of Clinical Oncology:
1-888-651-3038 or www.plwc.org