The fear isn't misplaced. Breast cancer affects more women than any other cancer except skin cancer, and kills more than any cancer but lung cancer. Still, doctors are making some strides in detecting and treating this devastating disease. Today the average size is grape size.
Early detection is one of the keys to surviving breast cancer.
CNN Moscow Bureau Chief Jill Dougherty Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Mammography, an x-ray of the breast, is the most common tool for finding breast tumors. A radiologist examines the x-ray for irregularities. But by the time a cancerous tumor has been found in a mammogram, it's already been growing for three to five years. Doctors can then zoom in on one area or change the contrast to improve the image. Targeting the tumor Progress is also being made in treating breast cancer with less invasive strategies.