Breast cancer is the fifth leading cause of death in women, according to 2009 information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. The best way to detect breast cancer early is through a mammogram. The CDC recommends that women age 40 and over receive a mammogram every one to two years.
Risk Factors
Many risk factors can raise the chances of breast cancer; some factors can be changed, while others cannot. Being a woman and aging are ones you cannot change, but living a healthy lifestyle, consuming a diet full of fruits and vegetables and exercising routinely are things women can control. According to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure website, other risk factors include inherited genetic mutations; family history of breast, ovarian or prostate cancer; high levels of estrogen in the blood; first period before age 12; and birth control use.
Prevention/Solution
Early detection is key in treating breast cancer. According to the Susan G. Komen For The Cure website, routine screening for breast cancer is recommended. Screening would include talking to your healthcare provider to find out what screening tests are appropriate; mammograms every year for average risk, starting at age 40; and a clinical breast exam at least every three years starting at age 20 and every year after age 40. Alert your doctor if you notice any abnormal breast changes such as a hard knot or lump on self exam, changes in breast size, or an itchy, scaly, rash on your breast.
Treatment
According to the National Cancer Institute, or NCI, there are five types of standard treatment options: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Most patients have surgery to remove the cancer. Even if surgery is performed to remove the breast, the doctor may decide to include one of the other therapies to make sure all the cancer cells are destroyed.
