8 Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer Awareness Month (and if it's not right now, now is the time as well) is the perfect time to examine common questions concerning the devastating form of cancer. About 12% (1 in 8) women are expected to develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2017, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the U.S alone. Symptoms of breast cancer can include a lump in the breast, bloody discharge from the nipple, extreme swelling, skin changes and/or changes in the shape or texture of the nipple or breast. Oftentimes breast cancer will not present with any symptoms – making regular screening very important. Consequent treatment depends on the stage of cancer; which may consist of chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery.
Considering breast cancer’s high prevalence and distressful effects, let’s take a look at some frequently asked questions concerning breast cancer risk and related issues.