Some responses surprised us, while some were quite predictable. Here are the top ten questions about breast cancer, and the brief answers that many women are asking for. There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer in all women , since the cause of the disease has not been determined. We do know that the growth of many breast cancers is stimulated by female hormones , especially estrogen. But for the average woman, early detection followed by prompt, expert treatment offers the best chance to treat breast cancer successfully.
Every woman is at risk for breast cancer.
Over 70 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors. We know that the risk of developing breast cancer increases as a woman gets older, if she has a family history of breast cancer in a close relative, has never had children or had her first child after age 30, and if she has had prior radiation treatment for Hodgkin's disease. All women need to know the facts and follow an early detection program. The best approach is to follow a healthy lifestyle . For example, recent studies have confirmed that women who maintain a slim body weight, exercise regularly, consume a diet low in fat and avoid alcohol have a lower incidence of breast cancer.