OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women in north america and europe.Close to 200,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 in america.Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in america behind lung cancer.The lifetime risk of a women getting breast cancer is 1 in 8.The risk of dying from breast cancer is much lower 1 in 28.Men are also at risk but much lower than women.The most important risk for breast cancer is age.Risk is also affected by the age a women begins her period younger age may increase her risk.Pregnacy later in life may increase her risk.Hormone replacement therapy may increase her risk.Family history increases her risk.