Breast Cancer

Finding out that you have cancer is no good news. But it doesn't have to be bad if you detect it early.

My mother is a two time breast cancer survivor. She had to go through the horrible case that millions of women go through around the world. Some don't make it and we lose the most important person in our lives to it. But I am lucky I still have her. And because of her, I do my best to keep up with my doctor visits. It's important to her and it's important to me. So this week, I'll be going for a mamogram. Though I'm young still and some have said I don't need to check yet, I started getting this test at the early age of 27. I had to argue with the staff at a clinic to get tested. My mother had cancer at 30. So why should I wait til I'm in my 40's to get checked? So this will be my 3rd test. I hope things work out well.

Remember, even if your 25, it's important to check yourself each month. If you do find something, finding it early CAN make a difference.

FACTS

• Every two minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
• This year more than 211,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected in the United States.
• One woman in eight who lives to age 85 will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
• Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55.
• 1,600 men are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and 400 are predicted to die.
• Seventy percent of all breast cancers are found through breast self-exams.
• Not all lumps are detectable by touch. We recommend regular mammograms and monthly breast self-exams.
  
• Eight out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous. If you find a lump, don't panic-call your doctor for an appointment.
  
• Mammography is a low-dose X-ray examination that can detect breast cancer up to two years before it is large enough to be felt.
  
• When breast cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 96%. This is good news! Over 2 million breast cancer survivors are alive in America today.

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