An estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2009, according to the American Cancer Society, at www.cancer.org. About 40,170 will die from the disease this year alone. Right now, breast cancer incidence in women in the United States is 1 in 8, but with early discovery this disease is very treatable.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – recognized each year in October – is dedicated to increasing awareness of the importance of early breast cancer detection. The pink ribbons and color signify the preventative care that should be taken by individuals in order to battle the disease before it takes over their lives. For those who are battling or have battled the disease, it serves as a memory of the individuals who have persevered or who have been lost and remembered.

Ways to decrease your risk of breast cancer

Maintain a healthy weight. For women, a healthy body mass index is between 18.5 and 25. Anywhere within these limits is healthy but studies have shown that being at the lower end of this scale provides the most protection from breast cancer. For a woman that is five-foot and four-inches, this means that her healthy weight would be between 105 and 142 pounds.

Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. This type of exercise doesn’t have to be very involved, and it can be for less if 30 minutes just doesn’t fit into your schedule. Anything from walking around the block to strenuously organizing the garage fits and could mean extra bonding time for you and your family. Take a walk around the lake or spend an hour in the park playing kickball to make sure that you maintain a healthy and fit body.

Drink less or don’t drink at all. If you need to drink socially, try to limit your alcohol consumption to one glass of wine (five ounces), one bottle of beer (12 ounces), or one shot of liquor (1.5 ounces) per day. This will also help you retain mind and body fitness.

Breastfeed if you can. Breastfeeding exclusively for six months has been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer. In addition to helping the mother, breastfeeding has also been shown to lower a child’s obesity risk later in life.

Types of tests used to identify breast cancer: Screening tests. The National Cancer Institute suggests that women 40 and over have screening mammograms every one to two years. These are given to individuals who are healthy and who are not suspected of having any sign of breast cancer. The purpose of these screenings is to detect breast cancer as early as possible so that treatment has the greatest effect. This usually occurs before any symptoms are present.

Diagnostic tests. Diagnostic tests are usually administered to individuals who are suspected of possibly having breast cancer. This could stem from symptoms of breast cancer being prevalent or as a result of a screening test. A diagnostic test, in the form of a biopsy, for example, is used to determine whether breast cancer is present in the body and whether it has traveled to any other areas of the body or to any other organs. In addition, a diagnostic test may be used to obtain as much information as possible to determine the best course of treatment.

While women get breast cancer more commonly, men are susceptible as well and should also think about screenings and diagnostic tests as they get older or if they suspect anything out of the ordinary in their breast area.

As breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among American women other than skin cancer, make sure to take all preventative measures possible. This will not only help you decrease your chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer, but it will also help you recognize the early signs as soon as possible.

Sources: U.S. News & World Report, National Cancer Institute, http://www.cancer.gov

Breast Cancer Statistics for 2009

• About 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
• About 62,280 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (earliest form of breast cancer).
• About 40,170 will die from breast cancer.
• For a woman, the chance of developing breast cancer in her life is less than 1 in 8 (12%).
• Breast cancer is the second most common form of deadly cancers of women, superseded only by lung cancer.
• 1 in 35 women will die from breast cancer (3%), but these numbers are declining with the aid of early detection.
• There are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

Source: http://www.cancer.org