Every October, you are likely to see an abundance of information about breast cancer. That's a good thing-awareness is crucial because early detection often leads to more effective treatment outcomes. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, excluding skin cancers.
It accounts for 30% of all new cancer diagnoses in women each year. In the U.S.
, a woman has about a 13% chance, or a 1 in 8 likelihood, of developing breast cancer during her lifetime. While breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, following lung cancer, the chance of a woman dying from breast cancer is relatively low-about 2.5%, or 1 in 40.
"Advancements in breast cancer care have led to earlier diagnosis, newer treatment options, and less invasive surgeries that have significantly improved patient outcomes," says Alycia So, MD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Today, there are more than 4 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
, including women still undergoing treatment and those who have completed it. "Greater awareness has undoubtedly led to more women being screened for breast cancer and earlier detection of the disease. Finding breast cancer early is important as it more likely to be treated successfully," says Dr.
So. Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer It's important for every woman to be familiar with how her breasts normally look and fee.