Early Detection
Early detection greatly improves the odds of survival. When diagnosed early, breast cancer has a very high five-year survival rate, and patients who reach this stage often go on to live long, healthy lives. Survival rates are lower for cancers that have spread locally, and they are very low for cancers that have metastasized to other parts of the body.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women age 35 to 54. An estimated one in eight women are expected to develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Breast cancer rates in the United States are among the highest in the world. The United States alone currently has 3 million breast cancer patients and survivors. Each year, an additional 186,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and another 46,000 women die. The mortality rate from breast cancer has decreased however in recent years due to an increased emphasis on early detection and more effective treatments.
At this time, breast cancer cannot be completely prevented, but the risk of developing advanced disease can be greatly reduced by early detection. Medical societies recommend a monthly BSE for all women over the age of 20, a breast exam by a health care professional every three years for women 20-39 years old, and a yearly mammogram for all women 40 and older. Even though a mammogram is considered a very useful screening tool, it is estimated that a tumor has been developing for eight to ten years by the time it is visible on an x-ray. There is an urgent need for a diagnostic test that will determine the presence of cancer at a much earlier stage.
Next: Ongoing Research
Related informational links:
American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society Clinical Trials Matching Service
National Cancer Institute Breast Cancer
CancerNet - A service of the National Cancer Institute
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Net
New York Times - Breast Cancer News
CancerTrack - Tracking cancer online
Mamm Magazine online
Health Central
Breast Cancer Society of Canada