1. Being a woman is the greatest risk factor for getting breast cancer.
2. Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women.
3. The risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer increases with age.
4. Although breast cancer is more common in women over age 40, younger women can also get breast cancer.
5. Early Detection Is Your Best Protection! Mammograms are the best tests that doctors have to find breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage.
6. Mammograms are safe and use very low doses of radiation. The benefits of getting a mammogram are much greater than the risks from the radiation. It is more dangerous to not find breast cancer early than to be exposed to low doses of radiation.
7. Most of the time, early breast cancer has no symptoms. That is why getting a mammogram on a regular basis is so important.
8. There is hope! When breast cancer is found at its earliest, most treatable stage, the chance of surviving for at least 5-years is 98%.

Early Detection is Your Best Protection!

What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk For Cancer?

Risk factors are things that increase your chance of getting cancer. You can do nothing about some risk factors, like age and family history. But there are some things you can do to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.

• Fit in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise (such as walking) into your daily routine
• Eat a colorful variety of fruits and vegetables every day
• Strive for a healthy weight
• Don’t smoke
• Don’t drink alcohol, or limit alcohol use (less than one drink per day for women)

Citations:

New Mexico Cancer Facts and Figures 2007

American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2008. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2008.