Breast Health

Breast Cancer Facts and Figures
Where Breast Cancer Most Frequently Begins
Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Facts and Figures

All women are at risk of breast cancer.

1 in 7 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This rate has more than doubled in the past 30 years.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.

Breast cancer is the leading killer of women ages 35 to 54.

Breast cancer in women under 50 is more aggressive and virulent.

70% of breast cancers occur in women without a family history of the disease.

Despite modern technology, breast cancer mortality has not been significantly reduced in more than 40 years. The main reasons for this are:
- 90% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed with a palpable tumor size.
- Large numbers of women are without screening tests until a palpable lesion is felt.
- As a stand-alone screening test, mammography misses approximately 20% of all cancerous tumors (false negatives).
- The majority of breast cancers revealed by mammography are not detected early enough.

25% of women die within the first 5 years and 40% within 10 years of their diagnosis.

Over 90% of women diagnosed with Stage 1 cancers are alive 5 years later, unfortunately only 58% of breast cancers are diagnosed at this stage.

Most cancers take 8-10 years to grow to 1 cm in size, but only 1.5 years more to grow to 3.5 cm. (Back to Top)

Where Breast Cancer Most Frequently Begins

PLEASE pass this along to anyone you care about. 50% of cancers begin in the upper portion of the breast. Breast Cancer is becoming frighteningly common. This awareness may save lives. If you are skeptical about these findings, I urge you to do some research for yourself. You will arrive at the same conclusions, I assure you.

In 2004, Dr. Kris McGrath, a Chicago allergist, performed a study published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention which he claims is the first to find a connection between antiperspirants, underarm shaving, and cancer. He studied 400 Chicago-area breast cancer survivors and found that women "who performed these underarm habits more aggressively" had a diagnosis of breast cancer 22 years earlier than the non-users and theorized that substances found in deodorants such as aluminum chlorohydrate were entering the lymphatic system through nicks in the skin caused by shaving. Additionally, men are less likely (but not completely exempt) to develop breast cancer prompted by anti-perspirant usage because most of the anti-perspirant product is caught in their hair and is not directly applied to the skin. Other specialists have expressed skepticism in the statistical weaknesses of Dr. McGrath's retrospective study. (Back to Top)

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in the breast tissue. All women, should regularly conduct monthly breast self-exams and daily self breast massage.During your self-exam look for the following physical changes that are associated with the development and spread of breast cancer:

Breast lump or thickening

Swelling, redness or tenderness

Change in the color or texture of the nipple

Dimpling or puckering of the skin

Nipple pain, discharge, scaliness or retraction (inversion of the nipple)

Lump in underarm area

Changes in the breast are most commonly due to benign conditions and usually are not signs of breast cancer. However, if you experience any of the above symptoms, contact your health care professional immediately.

Change in bowel or bladder habits
A sore that does not heal
Unusual bleeding or discharge
Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
Obvious change in wart or mole
Nagging cough or hoarseness

(Back to Top)

Home

Testimonials

Frequently Asked Questions

Links