Important Breast Cancer Facts to Understand

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, which is always a good time to make sure you are up to speed on the important facts, figures and tips as it relates to breast cancer. To learn more about the latest in breast cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship, Denise Monahan, MD, Breast Surgeon, Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, along with other experts, will be speaking at the American Cancer Society's Wisdom4Health event on October 19th hosted by Northwestern Medicine. To RSVP or learn more about the event, please call 847.535.7441.

Breast Cancer Facts

• One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.[1]

• Over 2.8 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the United States today.[1]

• Approximately every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, and 1 woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes.[1]

• Not all lumps that are found in the breast are cancerous but may be related to benign findings also.[2]

• There is a strong correlation between increased weight and breast cancer, especially those who gained weight in adolescence or after menopause. Maintaining a healthy body weight and staying physically activate can help decrease breast cancer risk.[3]

• Currently a woman living in the U.S. has a 12.1% (or 1 in 8) chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer. In the 1970s, the risk was 1 in 11. The increase is most likely due to longer life expectancy as well as perhaps changes in reproductive patterns, longer-term menopausal hormone use, increased obesity, and increased screening.[3]

• On average, it takes 100 days or more for a cancer cell to double in size. It takes about 10 years for cells to divide to a size that can be actually felt.[2]

• Breastfeeding has consistently been shown to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer-the greater the duration, the greater the benefit.[4]

1 "Breast Cancer Facts." National Breast Cancer Foundation. Accessed: July 2, 2017.

2 Bellenir, Karen, ed. Breast Cancer Sourcebook. 3rd ed. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics, 2009.

3 Carvalho, Lucia, RN/MSN, and James A. Stewart, MD. The Everything Health Guide to Living with Breast Cancer. Avon, MA: Adams Media, 2009.

4 "Breast Cancer Facts and Figures: 2009-2010." American Cancer Society. 2009. Accessed: January 19, 2011.