- Joined
- Feb 12, 2005
- Messages
- 28,176
- Reaction score
- 3
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="440"> <tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="T8">Mammograms Save Lives</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="5">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="T3" colspan="2">
October marks the 21st year of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign that has boosted mammogram use, pushed for better treatments, and saved lives. And since 1991 death rates from the disease have come down every year.
But challenges remain. Many poor and uninsured women don’t have access to affordable mammograms. Others don’t get mammograms on schedule -- needed to find cancer at an early, treatable stage. Try our Mammogram Reminder tool to set up a yearly mammogram message for all the women in your life.</td></tr></tbody> </table>
Breast Cancer: Facts and Figures
<small xmlns:fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format">
Provided by ehealthMD.com</small> <!--Do nothing with titleabbrev for now--> <!--do nothing with article info for now--> <!--do nothing with abstract for now--> <!--do nothing with article info for now--> <!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->
New Cases: <!--parent is section-->
An estimated 182,800 new invasive cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2000. About 1,400 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2000. After increasing about 4% per year in the 1980s, breast cancer incidence rates in women have leveled off in the 1990s to about 110.6 cases per 100,000.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->Deaths: <!--parent is section--> An estimated 41,200 deaths (40,800 women, 400 men) in 2000; breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women. According to the most recent data, mortality rates declined significantly during 1992_1996 with the largest decreases in younger women_both white and black. These decreases are probably the result of earlier detection and improved treatment.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->
<!--parent is section-->Signs and Symptoms:
The earliest sign of breast cancer is usually an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt by the woman or her health care provider. When breast cancer has grown to the point where physical signs and symptoms exist, these may include a breast lump, thickening, swelling, distortion, or tenderness; skin irritation or dimpling; and nipple pain, scaliness, or retraction. Breast pain is very commonly due to benign conditions and is not usually the first symptom of breast cancer.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span--><!--parent is section-->Risk Factors: The risk of breast cancer increases with age. The risk is higher in women who have a personal or family history of breast cancer, biopsy-confirmed atypical hyperplasia, a long menstrual history (menstrual periods that started early and ended late in life), or recent use of oral contraceptives or postmenopausal estrogens; who have never had children or had their first child after age 30, consume two or more drinks of alcohol daily, or have higher education and socioeconomic status. Worldwide, breast cancer incidence rates appear to correlate with variations in diet, especially fat intake, although a causal role for dietary factors has not been firmly established. Additional factors that may be related to breast cancer risk (increased or decreased) and that are currently being studied include pesticide and other chemical exposures, weight gain, induced abortion, physical inactivity, and selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs) such as tamoxifen and raloxifene. Exciting new research about BRCA1 and BRCA2 susceptibility genes for breast cancer is also in progress, although, general screening of the population for these genes is not recommended.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->Early Detection:
<!--parent is section--> Mammography is especially valuable as an early diagnostic tool because it can identify breast abnormalities that may be cancer at an early stage before physical symptoms develop. Numerous studies have shown that early detection increases survival and treatment options. The large declines in breast cancer mortality have been attributed, in part, to the use of regular screening mammography. The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older have an annual mammogram, an annual clinical breast examination by a health care professional, and perform monthly breast self-examination. Women ages 20_39 should have a clinical breast exam performed by a health care professional every three years and should perform monthly breast self-examination. Most breast lumps are not cancer, but only a physician can make a diagnosis. When a woman has a suspicious lump or when a suspicious area is identified on a mammogram, diagnostic mammography can help determine whether additional tests are needed and if there are other lesions that are too small to be felt in the same or the opposite breast. All suspicious lumps should be biopsied for a definitive diagnosis.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->Treatment: <!--parent is section-->
Taking into account the medical circumstances and the patient_s preferences, treatment may involve lumpectomy (local removal of the tumor) and removal of the lymph nodes under the arm; mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast) and removal of the lymph nodes under the arm; radiation therapy; chemotherapy; or hormone therapy. Often, two or more methods are used in combination. Numerous studies have shown that, for early stage disease, long-term survival rates after lumpectomy plus radiotherapy are similar to survival rates after modified radical mastectomy. Patients should discuss possible options for the best management of their breast cancer with their physicians. Significant advances in reconstruction techniques provide several options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Recently, this has been done at the same time as the mastectomy. Local excision of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with adequate amounts of surrounding normal breast tissue may prevent the local recurrence of the DCIS. Radiation to the breast and/or tamoxifen may reduce the chance of DCIS occurring in the remaining breast tissue. This is important because DCIS, if left untreated, may develop into invasive breast cancer.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->Survival: <!--parent is section-->
The 5-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer has increased from 72% in the 1940s to 96% today. If the cancer has spread regionally, however, the rate is 77%, and for women with distant metastases the rate is 21%. Survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer continues to decline beyond five years. Seventy-one percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive 10 years, and 57% survive 15 years. For more information about breast cancer, please inquire about the American Cancer Society publication Breast Cancer Facts and Figures (8610.99).
October marks the 21st year of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign that has boosted mammogram use, pushed for better treatments, and saved lives. And since 1991 death rates from the disease have come down every year.
But challenges remain. Many poor and uninsured women don’t have access to affordable mammograms. Others don’t get mammograms on schedule -- needed to find cancer at an early, treatable stage. Try our Mammogram Reminder tool to set up a yearly mammogram message for all the women in your life.</td></tr></tbody> </table>
Breast Cancer: Facts and Figures
<small xmlns:fo="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Format">
Provided by ehealthMD.com</small> <!--Do nothing with titleabbrev for now--> <!--do nothing with article info for now--> <!--do nothing with abstract for now--> <!--do nothing with article info for now--> <!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->
New Cases: <!--parent is section-->
An estimated 182,800 new invasive cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States during 2000. About 1,400 new cases of breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2000. After increasing about 4% per year in the 1980s, breast cancer incidence rates in women have leveled off in the 1990s to about 110.6 cases per 100,000.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->Deaths: <!--parent is section--> An estimated 41,200 deaths (40,800 women, 400 men) in 2000; breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women. According to the most recent data, mortality rates declined significantly during 1992_1996 with the largest decreases in younger women_both white and black. These decreases are probably the result of earlier detection and improved treatment.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->
<!--parent is section-->Signs and Symptoms:
The earliest sign of breast cancer is usually an abnormality that shows up on a mammogram before it can be felt by the woman or her health care provider. When breast cancer has grown to the point where physical signs and symptoms exist, these may include a breast lump, thickening, swelling, distortion, or tenderness; skin irritation or dimpling; and nipple pain, scaliness, or retraction. Breast pain is very commonly due to benign conditions and is not usually the first symptom of breast cancer.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span--><!--parent is section-->Risk Factors: The risk of breast cancer increases with age. The risk is higher in women who have a personal or family history of breast cancer, biopsy-confirmed atypical hyperplasia, a long menstrual history (menstrual periods that started early and ended late in life), or recent use of oral contraceptives or postmenopausal estrogens; who have never had children or had their first child after age 30, consume two or more drinks of alcohol daily, or have higher education and socioeconomic status. Worldwide, breast cancer incidence rates appear to correlate with variations in diet, especially fat intake, although a causal role for dietary factors has not been firmly established. Additional factors that may be related to breast cancer risk (increased or decreased) and that are currently being studied include pesticide and other chemical exposures, weight gain, induced abortion, physical inactivity, and selective estrogen-receptor modulators (SERMs) such as tamoxifen and raloxifene. Exciting new research about BRCA1 and BRCA2 susceptibility genes for breast cancer is also in progress, although, general screening of the population for these genes is not recommended.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->Early Detection:
<!--parent is section--> Mammography is especially valuable as an early diagnostic tool because it can identify breast abnormalities that may be cancer at an early stage before physical symptoms develop. Numerous studies have shown that early detection increases survival and treatment options. The large declines in breast cancer mortality have been attributed, in part, to the use of regular screening mammography. The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and older have an annual mammogram, an annual clinical breast examination by a health care professional, and perform monthly breast self-examination. Women ages 20_39 should have a clinical breast exam performed by a health care professional every three years and should perform monthly breast self-examination. Most breast lumps are not cancer, but only a physician can make a diagnosis. When a woman has a suspicious lump or when a suspicious area is identified on a mammogram, diagnostic mammography can help determine whether additional tests are needed and if there are other lesions that are too small to be felt in the same or the opposite breast. All suspicious lumps should be biopsied for a definitive diagnosis.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->Treatment: <!--parent is section-->
Taking into account the medical circumstances and the patient_s preferences, treatment may involve lumpectomy (local removal of the tumor) and removal of the lymph nodes under the arm; mastectomy (surgical removal of the breast) and removal of the lymph nodes under the arm; radiation therapy; chemotherapy; or hormone therapy. Often, two or more methods are used in combination. Numerous studies have shown that, for early stage disease, long-term survival rates after lumpectomy plus radiotherapy are similar to survival rates after modified radical mastectomy. Patients should discuss possible options for the best management of their breast cancer with their physicians. Significant advances in reconstruction techniques provide several options for breast reconstruction after mastectomy. Recently, this has been done at the same time as the mastectomy. Local excision of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) with adequate amounts of surrounding normal breast tissue may prevent the local recurrence of the DCIS. Radiation to the breast and/or tamoxifen may reduce the chance of DCIS occurring in the remaining breast tissue. This is important because DCIS, if left untreated, may develop into invasive breast cancer.
<!--put comment to force the end tag of span-->Survival: <!--parent is section-->
The 5-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer has increased from 72% in the 1940s to 96% today. If the cancer has spread regionally, however, the rate is 77%, and for women with distant metastases the rate is 21%. Survival after a diagnosis of breast cancer continues to decline beyond five years. Seventy-one percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive 10 years, and 57% survive 15 years. For more information about breast cancer, please inquire about the American Cancer Society publication Breast Cancer Facts and Figures (8610.99).
