About Breast Cancer

Facts
State and national facts about breast cancer.

Risk Factor
What is a risk factor? What can put you at risk for developing breast cancer?

Symptoms
A list of symptoms that may indicate breast cancer. What to do if you have symptoms.

Early Detection
Learn about the three methods for finding breast cancer early: mammograms, clinical breast exam (CBE), and self-breast examination (SBE or BSE). Using these three tests together works better than any one alone!

The Breast and Cervical Cancer Quiz
Test your knowledge about breast and cervical cancer with an eight question quiz.

Related Links
Find out more about breast cancer and other health topics.

Breast Cancer Facts

In 2007, about 2,100 women in Iowa will find out they have breast cancer, and about 410 will die from it.^{Ref: 3} Only lung cancer causes more cancer deaths among Iowa women than breast cancer.

• Breast cancer can happen at any age, but it becomes more common as women get older.

• Most women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.

• Most breast lumps are not cancer.

• The two biggest risk factors for breast cancer are being a woman and aging.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

A risk factor is "anything that increases a person's chance of getting a disease, such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors." - Edward H. Laughlin, M.D.^{Ref: 4}

Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get the disease. Some people may have several risk factors and never get the disease. Others, however, may have little or no risk and get the disease. This is why finding the cancer early is so important.

The two greatest risk factors:^{Ref: 5}

1. Being a woman; and
2. Aging.

Other risk factors:^{Ref: 6}

• Having had breast disease before that was not cancer;
• A personal or family history of breast cancer;
• Starting your period before age 12, or starting menopause after age 55;
• Using certain birth control pills or estrogen and progestins (hormones);
• Never giving birth, or having a first baby after age 30;
• Drinking alcohol;
• Weighing too much, especially after menopause;
• Smoking.

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Breast Cancer Symptoms

(NOTE: The symptoms listed below may mean you have breast cancer. They may also mean you have one of a large group of other diseases that are NOT CANCER such as an infection or a cyst (a harmless, fluid-filled sac). It is important to see your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms, to see what is causing the symptom.)

The following are all signs of breast cancer: (click the link to see a picture)

• A lump or mass in or around the breast;
• Swelling, tenderness, pain, or dimpling of the breast;
• Puckering, redness, or scaly skin on the nipple or breast skin;
• Nipple pain;
• Dimpling of the nipple or nipple turned inward;
• Unusual leaking fluid;
• One breast becomes bigger or smaller than the other.

See your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms. Most breast changes or lumps are not cancer, but only a health care provider can tell for sure. When breast cancer is found early, a woman has more treatment choices and a better chance of recovery!

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Breast Cancer Early Detection & Prevention

Early detection could save your life!

Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but finding it early means early treatment. Earlier treatment can mean a better outcome.

There are three methods that can be used to find breast cancer early:^{Ref: 7}

• A Mammogram Each Year

• A Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) by your health care provider

• Monthly Self-Breast Exams (SBE or BSE) (checking your own breasts)

Mammograms

What is a mammogram?

The mammography machine presses the breast between two plates to make X-rays. The pressure flattens the breast to make the best picture; it may cause some discomfort if your breasts are sensitive. Most women can accept the discomfort. The test lasts only a few minutes. The radiation from the test is not harmful.

A mammogram is the picture made by the mammography machine. Mammograms are used to look for cancer in women with and without symptoms.^{Ref: 8} Screening mammography is used in women without breast cancer symptoms; Diagnostic mammography is done when the health care provider finds a breast lump, or if you have breast cancer symptoms.^{Ref: 9}

Who should get a mammogram?

The American Cancer Society says women should have a mammogram each year starting at age 40.

Why should I get a mammogram?

• Yearly mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early. They can show a breast cancer before it is large enough to be felt by a woman or by her health care provider.^{Ref: 10}
• Older women have higher risk for breast cancer, and are least likely to have regular mammograms. About 75% of breast cancers happen in women over age 50 when the cancer is found.^{Ref: 11}
• Mammograms can find breast cancer early, when treatment may help the most.^{Ref: 12}

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For more information, contact your local Care for Yourself, program or call (800) 369-2229 or (800) 735-2942 (V/TTY).

You may also use the "Contact Us" page to submit questions online or write to us at:
Iowa Care for Yourself Program
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection/WISEWOMAN
Iowa Department of Public Health
Lucas State Office Building
321 East 12th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319-0075