Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women, after skin cancers.
Experts estimate that this year nearly 180,000 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed. It is the leading cause of cancer death among women aged 40 to 55. Breast cancer mortality rates are declining, while the five-year survival rate is climbing. The decline in breast cancer deaths can be attributed to a number of factors, including better treatment, medicines that help prevent breast cancer in high-risk women, and an increase in early detection of problems through breast exams and mammograms. Early detection of cancer is often the key to successfully diagnosing and treating breast cancer.