[excerpt] 1. How many women are affected by breast cancer? The American Cancer Society estimates that 211,240 women will be diagnosed with new cases of invasive breast cancer in the United States in 2005, and about 40,410 will die of the disease. An additional 58,490 will be diagnosed with in situ (noninvasive) breast cancer.
2. Is breast cancer the most common cancer among women? Among women, breast cancer trails only skin cancers as the most frequently diagnosed. It is the second-leading cause of death from cancer among women, after lung cancer.
3. Can men get breast cancer? It’s rare, but it can happen. An estimated 1,690 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and about 460 will die of it. Men account for less than 1 percent of all breast cancer cases.
4. Who is at risk for developing breast cancer? There are several risk factors for developing breast cancer; the primary one, after gender, is age. As you age, your risk for developing breast cancer rises. Women ages 50 and older account for 77 percent of breast cancer cases.
5. What are some of the other risk factors?n If a woman’s mother or sister had breast cancer, especially before menopause.n Menstrual periods beginning before age 12.n Never having children.n Having children after age 30.n Radiation treatment for other cancers.n Long-term use of hormone replacement drugs. n Lack of exercise.n Being 20 percent or more overweight.n Alcohol use. (Two to five drinks a day increase risk by 40 percent.)n High-fat diet low in fruits, vegetables; exposure to pesticides.
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