frequently asked questions & statistics

What is breast cancer?

What causes breast cancer?

Can breast cancer be prevented?

What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

What are the key statistics about breast cancer?

What are the current trends in breast cancer mortality and survival?

What is the incidence of breast cancer in younger women?

At what age should I begin to examine my breasts?

How often should I have my breasts examined by a health provider?

At what age should I have an annual mammogram?

Do young women have a different type of breast cancer than older women?

What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?

Mammograms and other Breast Imaging Procedures

Why is it recommended that women under age 40 not get regular mammograms?

What is Lymphedema?



What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is the result of cells in the breast becoming malignant and developing into a tumor. Although the disease occurs mostly in women, men can get breast cancer, but the occurrence is rare.
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What causes breast cancer?
We do not know yet what causes breast cancer. Researchers are working hard to discover why and how certain changes in DNA can cause normal breast cells to become cancerous, and to unlock the secret to understanding the genetic basis of breast cancer.
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Can breast cancer be prevented?
There is no certain way. However, women can learn the risk factors (see below) and promote early detection with regular breast self-exams, clinical check-ups and mammograms.
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What are the risk factors for breast cancer?

• The highest risk factors are being female and aging
• Menstrual history: if you began menstruating before age 12, or completed menopause after age 55
• Family history: if you have a mother, sister or daughter who has had the disease, or a close relative, such as a cousin or an aunt with a history of breast cancer
• Oral contraceptives: slight increased risk if you are currently using the pill, or have used it in the last 10 years
• Children: if you have never had children or had your first child after age 30
• Alcohol: if you consume one or more alcoholic drinks a day
• Being overweight: especially after menopause
• Chest radiation therapy: if you had this as a child or young adult
• Genetic mutations: if you carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations
• High breast tissue density: a mammographic measure of the amount of glandular tissue relative to fatty tissue in the breast
• Post menopausal hormone therapy: increased risk with combined estrogen and progestin therapy
• Physical inactivity

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What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

• A new lump or mass
• A hard mass that has irregular edges and is painless is more likely to be cancerous. (Cancers can sometimes be tender, soft and rounded, although it is rare.)
• A discharge, other than breast milk
• Redness or pain in the nipple, or on the breast skin
• Retraction of the nipple (turning inward)
• Swelling of the breast that is generalized with no distinct lump

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What are the key statistics about breast cancer?

• In 2013, >> the American Cancer Society estimates that 232,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer (Stages I-IV) will be diagnosed among women in the United States.
• An estimated 64,640 new cases of DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ, Stage 0), the non-invasive, earliest form of breast cancer will occur.
• The median age at diagnosis is 61 years; median age at death is 68.
• The percentage of breast cancers diagnosed as Stage IV (metastasized) is 5%.
• After increasing for more than 2 decades, female breast cancer incidence rates began decreasing in 2000, then dropped by about 7% from 2002 to 2003. This large decrease was thought to be due to the decline in use of hormone therapy after menopause that occurred after the results of the Women's Health Initiative were published in 2002. This study linked the use of hormone therapy to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart diseases. Incidence rates have been stable in recent years.
• In the United States, it is projected that 39,620 women will die from breast cancer in 2013. Therefore, in the US a woman will die from breast cancer, on average, every 13 minutes.
• In men, an estimated 410 deaths are expected in 2013.
• Breast Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
• It is estimated that 5%-10% of breast cancer cases result from inherited mutations, including those in the breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2.
• Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women (excluding skin cancer). Worldwide, approximately 1.3 million cases of breast cancer will be detected each year.
• In her lifetime, 1 out of 8 women will develop breast cancer.
• One out of 210 breast cancer cases occur in women under the age of 40.
• Overall breast cancer incidence rates are lower in African-American women than in white women. However, African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer.
• Asian, Hispanic and American Indian women have a significantly lower risk of breast cancer incidence and mortality.

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What are the current trends in breast cancer mortality and survival?

• The 5-year relative survival rate for female invasive breast cancer patients has improved from 75% in the mid-1970s to 90% today.
• The 5-year relative survival for women diagnosed with localized breast cancer (cancer that has not spread to lymph nodes or other locations outside the breast) is 98%; if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes (regional stage) or distant lymph nodes or organs (distant stage), the survival rate falls to 84% or 24%, respectively.
• The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%).
• Death rates from breast cancer have continued to decline since 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. According the the NCI SEER Statistical Tables, breast cancer mortality in the US declined 3.4% annually between 1995 and 1998, and 1.9% annually between 1998 and 2009. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.
• At this time there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
  
• >> Worldwide Incidence and Mortality Rates for Female Breast Cancer.

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What is the incidence of breast cancer in younger women?
The number of younger women getting breast cancer has been stable in the last 10 years, and the mortality rate in young women has declined, probably due to early detection and improved treatments. While only 4 to 5% of women under 40 will develop breast cancer, 1 in every 227 women between the ages of 30 and 40 will be diagnosed.
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At what age should I begin to examine my breasts?
Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast changes promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam is an option for women, starting in their 20's. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. It is acceptable for women to choose not to do BSE or to do it occasionally. Visit MayoClinic.com for more information on screening and BSE.
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How often should I have my breasts examined by a health provider?
A clinical breast exam should be part of a periodic health exam, about every three years for women in their 20's and 30's, and every year for women 40 and older.
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At what age should I have an annual mammogram?
Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40, and continuing for a long as a woman is in good health. According to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mammography rates among women 40 and older significantly declined from 76.4% in 2000 to 74.6% in 2005. The report states that the decline suggests a need for more careful monitoring because mammography screening every one to two years can significantly reduce breast cancer mortality. Visit MayoClinic.com for more information on mammography. In addition, read the BCRF Response to a report from the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) on mammographic screening.
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Do young women have a different type of breast cancer than older women?
No. However, according to the Young Survival Coalition, because young women typically have dense breast tissue, a mammogram is not always the best diagnostic tool for them. For this reason, and because dense breasts also make it more difficult to feel a lump, it is crucial that women ages 20 and older become familiar with their breasts and make sure they get regular clinical exams.
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What is Inflammatory Breast Cancer?
Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of breast cancer in which the breast looks red and swollen, and feels warm. The skin of the breast may also show the pitted appearance called peau d'orange (like the skin of an orange). The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin. Symptoms can also include a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area, a change in the size or shape of the breast, nipple discharge or tenderness, or the nipple pulled back (inversion) into the breast.
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Mammograms and Other Breast Imaging Procedures
Learn the latest details from the American Cancer Society about Mammograms, MRI's (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), Breast Ultrasound (also known as sonography), Ductograms, and newer, even experiemental methods! >>read more
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Why is it recommended that women under age 40 not get regular mammograms?
The breasts of young women contain many glands and ligaments, which appear dense on a mammogram. This radiologic density makes it more difficult to spot tumors, or to tell cancerous conditions. With age, the glandular and fibrous tissues of the breast gradually give way to fatty tissue. Because fatty tissue has less radiologic density, mammograms can more easily �see� into the breast tissue and detect abnormal changes.

Although mammograms are not generally recommended as part of regular screening for women under age 40, women at increased risk (family history, genetic tendency, past breast cancer) should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of starting mammography screening earlier, having additional tests (such as breast ultrasound and MRI), or having more frequent exams. In 1985, only about 20% of women were estimated to have had mammograms in the prior two years. By 2000, this figure had increased to 70%.
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What is Lymphedema?
Women who have been treated for breast cancer may be at risk for lymphedema, or arm swelling. The swelling can range from mild to severe, and it can develop soon after surgery or radiation treatment, or many months or even years later. Additional information about lymphedema can be found on the American Cancer Society web site (www.cancer.org) --go to the breast cancer resource center and search for Lymphedema.
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Primary Source: American Cancer Society.
Additional Sources: NCI/SEER data from 2005-2009; National Cancer Institute; Mayo Clinic; Cancer Research UK