10 Facts about Breast Cancer

You're NOT Alone

1. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. One in every eight women in the United States develops breast cancer.
2. There are over 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the United States today.
3. All women are at risk for developing breast cancer.
4. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between ages 40 and 55.
5. Nearly 40,000 women will die of breast cancer in 2012.
6. At present, there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, which is why regular mammograms and monthly breast self-exams are extremely important.
7. The causes of breast cancer are not yet fully known although a number of risk factors have been identified such as late menopause, diets high in saturated fat, late pregnancies, estrogen replacement therapy, high alcohol intake, moderate obesity and a family history.
8. Besides being female, age is the most important risk factor for breast cancer. Older women are much more likely to get breast cancer than younger women. Over 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are age 50 or older
9. Every 2.5 minutes, there is a new breast cancer diagnosis. Over 200,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed each year.
10. Seventy percent of all breast cancers are found through breast self-exams. A mammography can detect breast cancer up to two years before it is large enough to be felt.