Breast cancer statistics
There are 200,000 to 300,000 cases of breast cancer per year in the United States and over 2 million cases worldwide per year. 1 out of every 8 cancers diagnosed worldwide are Breast Cancer making it the number one diagnosed cancer in the world. It is the 2nd most common cancer in the US.
Less than 1% of breast cancer cases occur in men though the past few decades has seen an increase in male breast cancer patients in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Breast cancer in men tends to happen later in age than women. Due to being diagnosed when further along, men tend to have a higher rate of death from breast cancer.
Black women and men of any race die at higher rates than white women from breast cancer.
You are at a high risk for breast cancer if:
- You have a significant family history of breast cancer
- You have genetic changes for breast cancer in your BRCA 1 and 2 genes
Other breast cancer risk factors include:
- Alcohol: The more alcohol you drink the more risk you have of developing breast cancer.
- Later in life or no pregnancy: Your breast cancer risk is increased if you have your first pregnancy after you are 30 or never carry a child to term.
- Smoking-previous or current history
- Birth control and Hormone Replacement Therapy
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Overweight or obese after menopause
- Diethylstilbestrol (DES): If you have taken DES or your mother took it while pregnant with you, you are at an increased risk for breast cancer.
- Radiation therapy to the chest or breasts prior to 30 years old
- Family or personal history of ovarian cancer
- Starting menses prior to 12 years old
- Menopause starting after 55 years old
- Dense breasts
- Increasing age-most breast cancers are diagnosed after 50 years of age.
- No history of breastfeeding
- IN MEN-having injury or surgery to the testicles or liver disease increases your risk of breast cancer
How do I prevent Breast Cancer?
This is difficult to answer, because everyone is different with different levels of genetic predisposition and risk factors. Living the healthiest self you can, doing self breast checks and getting regular breast cancer screenings are your best actions to prevent and/or catch it early.
Lifestyle changes to help decrease your risk for breast cancer:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stay active and exercise daily
- Decrease or stop drinking alcohol
- Do not smoke any products
- Try to breastfeed if you have a child
- Consider having a child prior to 30 years old
- Try to avoid hormonal therapies pre and post menopause-certain birth controls and just 5 years of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) increase your risk for breast cancer
How do I get screened for Breast Cancer?
There are 2 main types of mammograms. One is a screening mammogram which most women will get. The second is a diagnostic mammogram which would be ordered by your doctor if needed such as if there were symptoms of breast cancer.
A breast MRI is also available for screening dense breast but there is insufficient evidence for its use in dense breast as opposed to a mammogram. Your doctor would be your best source to discuss what is right for you. The current guidelines are for regular screening mammograms in most screening situations.
The current American Cancer Society recommendations for breast cancer screening for women at average risk (most women) are as follows:
- Starting at 40 years old women should have the option of getting annual mammograms.
- Starting at 45 years old women should be getting annual mammograms.
- Starting at 55 years old women may get screening mammograms every 1-2 years.
- Starting at 75 years old women should continue mammogram screening as long as they are healthy and have an overall life expectancy of 10 years or more.
If you are at high risk please follow closely with your healthcare team for current recommendations that may be tailored to you.
What are some of the symptoms of breast cancer?
- Lumps or dimpling in the breast, nipple or underarm areas
- Itching in the breast, nipple or underarm areas
- Nipple discharge or bleeding, especially if on one side
- Nipple inverting-especially if on one side
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Breast not freely moving from the chest wall when you bend forward or any change/decrease in breast movement
- Pain in breast, nipple or underarm area
- Redness, flaking or irritation of the skin in the breast, nipple or underarm area
- Thickening or swelling of the breast, nipple or underarm area
- Any change in size or shape of the breast
If you have any concerns at all or notice any symptoms listed above please see your doctor immediately.
Studies repeatedly show that early detection decreases the need for aggressive treatments and mastectomies. Early treatment increases your chance of being cured or for a more healthy long-term survival. Work with your healthcare team and follow guidelines on screening for all cancers, including breast cancer.
Resources:
medicine101.org/cancer-screening/ Resource for free and affordable health and cancer screening
cancer.org American Cancer Society
https://www.cancer.org/healthy/find-cancer-early/get-screened.html#age Free screening resources