Breast Cancer Information

 Breast Cancer Information

Remember, Early Detection Helps Save Lives

Be sure you and your loved ones follow the recommended guidelines from the American Cancer Society for early detection of breast cancer. If there is a history of breast cancer in your family consult your doctor on the need to begin these steps at an earlier age.

• Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.
• Clinical breast exam (CBE) should be part of a periodic health exam, about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
• Women should know how their breasts normally feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care providers. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
• Women at high risk (greater than 20% lifetime risk) should get an MRI and a mammogram every year. Women at moderately increased risk (15% to 20% lifetime risk) should talk with their doctors about the benefits and limitations of adding MRI screening to their yearly mammogram. Yearly MRI screening is not recommended for women whose lifetime risk of breast cancer is less than 15%.

Important U.S. Facts About Breast Cancer

• Approximately 178,480 women and 2,030 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year
• 40,460 women and 450 men in the U.S. will die from the disease annually.
• There are over 2 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. who have been treated for breast cancer
• Every 3 minutes, there is a new diagnosis of invasive breast cancer
• There are more than 250,000 women under the age of 40 in the U.S living with breast cancer, and over 11,000 will be diagnosed this year
• A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime
• Every 13 minutes, a life is lost to breast cancer
• White, non-Hispanic women are more likely to develop breast cancer but African-American women are more likely to die from it.
• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Hispanic women and is the leading cause of cancer deaths among this group.

Men Get Breast Cancer, Too

• Survival for men with breast cancer is similar to survival for women, when their stage of diagnosis is the same.
• Men at any age may develop breast cancer, but it is usually found in men between 60 and 70 years of age.
• Male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer.
• Male breast cancer is sometimes caused by inherited gene mutations, and a family history of breast cancer can increase a man’s risk.

Help, Support and Guidance

These national organizations, funded by the Avon Foundation, offer lifesaving information and direct services. For more information and to find resources in your community, please find the most recent Breast Health Resource Guide.

• Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Bulletin Board has an online support group where breast cancer patients and survivors share information, support and hope.  http://avoncompany.com/women/avoncrusade/bbsindex.htm
• AVONCares Program at Cancer Care provides a wide range of support services nationwide, including patient navigation, financial assistance, and emotional support.  http://www.cancercare.org/   or 800-813-HOPE (4673).
• American Cancer Society has regional offices where reliable information, support groups and other resources can be found.  http://www.cancer.org/ or 800.ACS.2345 
• Cancer and Careers is for working women, who are balancing work demands with their cancer diagnosis and treatment.http://www.cancerandcareers.org/   or 212-685-5955. The Avon Foundation is a founding sponsor of this program.
• Look Good, Feel Better program offers free seminars to help overcome the appearance related effects of cancer and cancer treatment.  http://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.org/  or 800.395.LOOK
• National Cancer Institute  is a reliable resource for up-to-date information on all cancers. They also have an online mechanism called "Live Help," through which an individual can be connected "real time" with a cancer specialist.http://www.cancer.gov/  or 1.800.4.CANCER
• National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund/Project LEAD is a breast cancer advocacy organization that specializes in providing medical education to the public and training breast cancer advocates on legislative and medical developments.http://www.stopbreastcancer.org/  or 202-296-7447.
• Breast Cancer Network of Strength offers community education and support. http://www.networkofstrength.org/  or 1-800-221-2141 (English) or 1-800-986-9505 (Spanish)
• Young Survival Coalition addresses the unique issues and needs for women diagnosed under the age of 40 http://www.youngsurvival.org/ or 800.YSC.1011