The Facts

More women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer every year than with any other cancer except skin cancer. This year, about 175,000 cases will be diagnosed and about 43,000 women will die of the disease. Many of these lives could have been saved by early diagnosis.

At Risk

Most women who get breast cancer have no family history of the disease or other risk factors. Breast cancer can occur at any age, but it becomes more common as a woman gets older. Although some women are at a slightly higher risk - women whose mothers or sisters had breast cancer, women who have never had children, and women who had their first child after age 30 - the biggest risk factor for breast cancer is being a woman.

The Best Defense: Early Detection

The earlier breast cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat. The American Cancer Society recommends the following guideline for early detection:

Age 40 & over

• Do a breast self-exam each month
• Have a clinical breast exam by a health care professional every year*
• Have a mammogram every year

* The clinical breast exam should be done close in time to the scheduled mammogram.

Age 20 to 39

• Do a breast self-exam each month
• Have a clinical breast exam by a health care professional every three years