Almost one-third of all new cancers in women are breast cancers. This is the most common cause of cancer in women. Signs and symptoms of breast cancer include changes in the breast, such as:
* a non-painful lump,
* discharge from the nipple,
* dimpling of the skin, or
* an abnormal density seen on a mammogram.

The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Forty-eight percent of new breast cancer occurs in women over the age of 65. In addition, the risk is higher in women who have the following conditions:
* a personal or family history of breast cancer,
* some forms of benign breast disease,
* early beginning of menstruation or late menopause,
* lengthy exposure to cyclic estrogen, and
* never having children or having the first live birth at a later age.

Additional factors currently under study include pesticide and other chemical exposures, alcohol consumption, induced abortion, physical inactivity, and fat intake. These factors are felt to effect estrogen metabolism. Most have not yet been found, however, to increase the risk of breast cancer.

The best opportunity for reducing death from breast cancer is through early detection. The five year survival rate for localized breast cancer is 80 to 90 percent. Screening for breast cancer using mammography and a clinical breast exam is recommended every year for women ages 50 and older. Mammography may be indicated for women ages 40 to 49 who are at increased risk for breast cancer. All women aged 20 and older should regularly examine their breasts for new lumps or tender areas once a month.

There are many different ways to treat breast cancer. It depends upon the kind of breast cancer diagnosed, and the patient's desire. Commonly, surgery is combined with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and, or, hormone therapy. To learn more about breast cancer, you can call the American Cancer Society at (800) ACS-2345 or the National Cancer Institute at (800) 4-CANCER.

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