The American Cancer Society predicts that there will be about 182,800 new cases of invasive breast cancer in the year 2000 among women in this country and about 40,800 deaths from the disease. Breast cancer also occurs among men, although much less often. This decline is probably the result of better detection and improved treatment. It is not known yet what exactly causes breast cancer, but what is known is that certain risk factors are linked to the disease. A risk factor is something that increases a person's chance of getting a disease.
Different cancers have different risk factors.
Some risk factors, such as smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or family history, can't be changed. While all women are at risk for breast cancer, certain factors can increase the chances of a woman's having the disease. Click here for more information on risk factors and breast cancer. If my family wouldn't have detected it early, I may not have them today.