Breast cancer now strikes more women in the world than any other type of cancer. In the past 50 years, the lifetime risk of breast cancer has nearly tripled in the United States. In the 1940s, a woman's lifetime risk of breast cancer was 1 in 22. In the year 2002, the risk is 1 in 8. This year alone, an estimated 203,500 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and 54,300 with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ, non-invasive tumors contained in the milk ducts). An estimated 40,000 will die from the disease.

HOW COMMON IS BREAST CANCER?

    An estimated 3 million women in the U.S. today are living with breast cancer: 2 million have been diagnosed with the disease, and 1 million have the disease but do not yet know it.

   Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women in America and worldwide. Breast cancer rates are the highest in industrialized countries. It is estimated that 1.2 million new diagnoses and 500,000 deaths from breast cancer will occur worldwide this year.

   Breast cancer occurs in men and is increasing at an alarming rate. This year, it is estimated that 1,500 American men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, a 50% increase over the 1,000 diagnosed in 1998.

IS BREAST CANCER LIFE THREATENING?

   Breast Cancer is the leading cause of death for American women ages 34 to 54 and the second leading cause of cancer death for all American women.

   There is no way to predict whether or how long any individual woman will survive after a diagnosis of breast cancer. The 5-year survival rate for localized breast cancer is 96%, for cancer that has spread regionally 77% and for distant metastatic cancer 21%. At least 71% of all women survive 10 years after diagnosis, but 48%, almost half, will die from breast cancer within 20 years of diagnosis.

   African-American women are more likely than white women to die from breast cancer, even though overall, white women have the highest incidence of breast cancer.

WHO IS AT RISK?

   All women are at risk for breast cancer, whether or not the disease is in their family. Heredity accounts for less than 10% of all breast cancer.

   When all risk factors and personal characteristics (including early onset of menstruation, late menopause, no children or breast-feeding, and low physical activity) are added together, more than 50% of breast cancer cases remain explained.

WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL LINKS TO BREAST CANCER?

   There is only one proven environmental cause of human breast cancer – exposure to ionizing radiation, such as x-rays, uranium and other radioactive materials, or nuclear waste. However, there is a substantial and growing body of evidence indicating that exposures to certain toxic chemicals and hormone-mimicking compounds contribute to the development of breast cancer.

   Research has shown that women who have prolonged exposure to estrogens are at higher risk for breast cancer, and researchers at Tufts University Medical School have demonstrated that estrogen-mimicking chemicals, including those found in some pesticides, fuels, plastics and detergents, make human breast cancer cells grow in the laboratory, just as natural estrogen does.

   It is a well-documented fact that many chemicals accumulate in body fat and remain in breast tissue for decades. Studies show that all women carry persistent pollutants in their blood, breasts and other fatty tissues, and some of these harmful chemicals have even been found in human breast milk, including dioxin a known carcinogen. Breast milk is still the best nutrition for infants, but a comprehensive program is needed to monitor and remove this contamination.

WHAT ABOUT EARLY DETECTION?

   Mammography does not prevent breast cancer, but the earlier breast cancer is detected by self-exam or mammography and followed by treatment, the greater the woman's chances of survival. However, mammographic x-rays fail to detect as much as 20% of breast cancer in women over 50, and as much as 40% in younger women. Other drawbacks include the invasive use of radiation, a known carcinogen, and the fact that breast tumors have been growing, on average, 8 to 10 years before they can be picked up by mammography. The Breast Cancer Fund urges true prevention by tackling breast cancer at its root and identifying and eliminating cancer-causing chemicals from our bodies and our environment.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT BREAST CANCER, VISIT THE BREAST CANCER FUND'S WEBSITE!