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Breast Cancer UpdateMonita Soni, MD, FCAP-President, PrimePath, PC Decatur, ALCAP Spokesperson November 2010

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers

• The chance of developing invasive breast cancer at some time in a woman's life is about one in 8 (12 percent)

• In 2010, more than 250,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States

• More than 50,000 of these new cases will be the earliest form of breast cancer

• The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about one in 35 (about three percent)

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The biggest risk factors are being a woman and aging

Other risk factors include:

• Family history

• Personal history of breast cancer

• History of breast biopsy

• Early onset and late end of menstrual periods

• History of radiation treatment

All women are at risk for breast cancer

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• Lumps

• Swelling skin on breast or underarm

• Breast nipple changes• Inverted • Rash• Skin texture changes• Discharge (other than breast milk)

• Depression in area of breast surface

Breast cancer signs can include:

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More breast cancer facts…

• In 2010, nearly 40,000 women will die from breast cancer in the United States

• However, when breast cancer is diagnosed in the earliest, localized stage, the five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent.

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Breast cancer screening saves lives

• Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990

• The larger decreases have been in women younger than 50

• These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and regular mammograms, as well as increased awareness and improvements in treatment

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Recent CDC reports confirm that breast cancer screening tests like mammograms do save lives.

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If even more women get tested for breast cancer this year, thousands of more lives could be saved

“As a physician who specializes in pathology, I know that mammograms can detect breast cancer early, when it is easiest to treat. I strongly encourage women age 40 and older to have a screening mammogram annually.”

This simple test could This simple test could save your life!!save your life!!

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Pathologists examine cells, tissues, bodily fluids to identify/diagnose breast cancer

To help women remember to schedule a mammogram, CAP developed a free website, MyHealthTestReminder.org

Women who visit MyHealthTestReminder.org can chose the day they would like to receive

an e-mail reminding them to call their primary health care provider to schedule their next

mammogram appointment.

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The College of American Pathologists has developed a patient information Web site, MyBiopsy.org, to help women and their families better understand the disease

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be a frightening experience

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• Information on more than 40 different cancers and cancer-related conditions

• Survivor stories

• Glossary of key medical terms

• Pictures of diseased versus normal cells

• Tips on how to read your pathology report

MyBiopsy.org …a source for patient information

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• Mammograms can help detect cancer before a woman can feel a lump in a self-exam, as well as cancers too small to feel during a clinical breast exam

• Eight out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous. But if you do find a lump, call your doctor to schedule an appointment

Remember: early detection saves lives!!

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Learn more!! Visit www.cap.org