Breast Cancer Information

• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in American women, and 1 in 8 have a chance of developing this disease.
• 85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer don’t have a family history of the disease.
• 45% of American women have dense breasts, which has been linked to a much higher risk of breast cancer. Women with dense breasts should be screened more frequently and should speak to their doctor about supplemental imaging tests.
• Men account for 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States.
• Breast cancer is easiest to treat when caught early, so it’s important to get regular screenings.

Symptoms

• The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass.
• Other possible symptoms of breast cancer include swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no lump is felt), skin dimpling, breast or nipple pain, nipple retraction, nipple or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking, or thickened, nipple discharge or swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone.
• Not all breast lumps are cancer, but it is still important to have any new breast mass checked by a health care professional.

Screening Options

The American Cancer Society and Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) recommend:

• Starting yearly screenings at the age of 45.
• Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.
• Women aged 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year or can choose to continue yearly mammograms.
• Women with dense breasts should have more frequent screening, including screening with MRI and/or ultrasound in addition to mammograms.

Stand Up To Cancer continues to fund groundbreaking breast cancer research in early detection and therapies that target breast tumors with the immune system, along with developing and testing new drugs to treat the disease. SU2C-funded research has helped support two FDA approvals for new drugs and drug combinations to improve breast cancer patients’ prognoses and extend their lifespans.

This important and urgent work in cancer research continues with the generous support of donors like you. Consider donating to support Stand Up To Cancer’s life-saving cancer research.