In the U.S., a woman's lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer is 1.1 percent. Most women who develop this cancer haven't had regular Pap smears. Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women. One out of every eight women in the U.S. is at risk for breast cancer during her lifetime. The breast, or mammary glands, consist of fat pads around a branching system of ducts that transport milk from milk-producing lobules to the nipples.
Breast cancer develops through a series of changes in the cells lining the ducts or the lobules.
Monthly changes in the breast, including tenderness and the growth of cysts, are normal responses to hormonal activity during the menstrual cycle. Because of these changes, all women age 20 and older should perform monthly breast self-examination. Any lump that does not recede after menstruation should be evaluated. Ideally, doctors want to diagnose breast cancer before it can be felt, because the earlier it is detected, the better the chance for a cure. Mammography is the best form of early detection for breast cancer.