About 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetimes. But the best defense is something you can control: early detection.
In 2021, an estimated 281,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 49,290 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer, according to www.breastcancer.org.
Men also get breast cancer; about 2,650 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in men this year. But the biggest risk factors by far are being a woman and aging. It's the most common cancer diagnosis for American women.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. More than 3.8 million women have a history of breast cancer in the U.S. About 43,600 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2021 from the disease.
The good news is the five-year survival rate is more than 90 percent for cases that are detected early.
Self-examinations are the first line of defense. They can detect a change in the look or feel of the breast/nipple or discharge from the nipple. Pain, swelling, warmth, redness, darkness are also signs. Essentially, anything out of the norm should be a red flag and suggest a trip to your physician.
What if you don't have symptoms? Are you in the clear? Not necessarily. Many women with breast cancer have no symptoms. This is why regular breast cancer screening is so important, according to cancer.org.
Imaging tests can help doctors detect breast cancer. Mammograms are frequently used. And while they can be uncomfortable, even painful, they last just seconds and they can save your life.
You can also reduce your risk by staying healthy: Keep a healthy body weight, stay active, eat right and limit your alcohol consumption. In some cases, prescription drugs can be used to lower the risk of breast cancer.
The bottom line is this: take care of your body, pay attention to your body and make routine visits with your doctor.
One day we'll beat this dreaded disease - and hopefully cancer overall. Until then, there is still much we can do to reduce our risk.
News Tribune