Download Breast Cancer Update

Breast Cancer Update
Monita Soni, MD, FCAP-President, PrimePath, PC Decatur, AL
CAP Spokesperson
November 2010
www.cap.org
v. #
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)
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
2
All women are at risk for breast cancer
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
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
3
Breast cancer signs can include:
• 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
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
4
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.
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
5
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
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
6
Recent CDC reports confirm that breast cancer
screening tests like mammograms do save lives.
If even more women get tested for breast cancer
this year, thousands of more lives could be saved
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
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Pathologists examine cells, tissues, bodily fluids to
identify/diagnose breast cancer
“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
save your life!!
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
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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.
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
9
Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be a
frightening experience
The College of American Pathologists has
developed a patient information Web site,
MyBiopsy.org, to help women and their families
better understand the disease
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
10
MyBiopsy.org …a source for patient information
• 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
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
11
Remember: early detection saves lives!!
• 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
Learn more!!
Visit www.cap.org
© 2010 College of American Pathologists. All rights reserved.
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