Facts About Breast Cancer In The United States
Facts About Breast Cancer In The United States
Every woman is at risk for breast cancer.
The risk of developing the disease 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, and if she has had prior treatment with radiation therapy for Hodgkinâs disease. However, over 70 percent of cases occur in women who have no identifiable risk factors.
About two million breast cancer survivors in the United States are alive today.
Detection Facts
Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but it can be treated when detected at an early stage.
Regular screening is critical to identify a problem at an early stage, when it is most treatable. The following steps should be practiced faithfully: Annual mammograms beginning at age 40; Annual clinical breast examinations by a medical professional trained in the proper examination technique; Breast self-examinations once a month, several days after the menstrual period, or after menopause, on the same day every month.
A mammogram and a clinical breast exam can be scheduled without a doctorâs prescription.
All women are entitled, by federal law, to receive reports of the results of their mammography examinations.
If any irregularities in the screening process are reported to you by your doctor, or by the radiology facility where you had your mammogram, it is important to follow up immediately with the appropriate diagnostic tests and other suggestions your health care provider makes.
Mammograms should be obtained through facilities that are certified by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To verify a centerâs certification, or obtain a list of certified facilities, call the National Cancer Institute, 800-4-CANCER.
For more information about breast cancer, phone the National Cancer Instituteâs Cancer Information Service at 800-4-CANCER; visit www.nci.nih.gov; telephone the American Cancer Society at 800-ACS-2345; Cancer Care at 800-813-HOPE (4673); or the Y-ME Hotline for psycho-social support, primarily breast cancer, at 800-221-2141. All calls are confidential.