Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that has developed from cells of the breast. The disease occurs mostly in women, but does occur rarely in men. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, excluding skin cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 1999 about 175,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among omen in the United States. An estimated 1,300 cases will be diagnosed among men.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeding lung cancer.
It is the leading cause of cancer death among women age 40 to 55. The breast cancer mortality rate, a measure of breast cancer deaths per 100,000 women, has been decreasing during the past few years. Increased screening of women, leading to detection of cancers at an earlier stage, and more effective treatments, are most likely responsible for lowering the breast cancer mortality rate. There is no certain way to prevent breast cancer. For, now the best plan for women at average breast cancer risk is to reduce life-style related risk factors whenever possible.