Breast Cancer: Know Your Risk

Mother's Day is just around the corner, a great time to give the gift of good health. Share these vital facts about breast cancer with your mom:

• Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women, accounting for one out of three cancer diagnoses. It is the single leading cause of death for African American women, and all women 40 to 55 years of age.



• The risk of developing breast cancer increases as a woman ages, if she has a family history of breast cancer, has never had children, or had her first child after age 30. However, most breast cancers occur in women who have no identifiable risk factors.



• The risk for breast cancer rises sharply after age 40. Two thirds of all breast cancers occur in women over 50 years of age.



• Fewer than one third of American women follow recommended guidelines for mammography screenings, a simple procedure that can reveal small breast tumors up to two years before they can be felt.



• Most breast irregularities are found by women themselves, yetmany women do not know how to perform breast self-examination, and few do so regularly.



• More than 80 percent of breast lumps are benign, but all breast lumps should be evaluated by a physician.

Source: National Breast Cancer Coalition