Life Saving Information About Breast Cancer

By Teresa Ambord

Every woman is at risk for breast cancer, whether or not it runs in her family.  In fact, 80 percent of women who develop breast cancer had no family history of it. 

Except for skin cancer, it is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women.

Here are some facts you should know:

  • Each year in the United States, more than 210,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,000 women die from it.
  • The good news is, the odds for recovery are pretty good, since 80 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not experience spread of the disease beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes.
  • Monthly self-exams are important, but the best defense against breast cancer is regular mammograms.  Mammograms are able to detect some lumps one to three years before a self-exam can. For women over 40, mammograms every one to two years are recommended.

To find out where to get a free or low-cost mammogram in your area, click here:

  • Mammograms
  • Or call: 1-888-842-6355
    (select option 7)

Also, during National Breast Cancer Awareness month each October, many clinics feature free or low cost mammograms.  Find one near you by clicking here:

The Good News for Breast Cancer Victims

Recent studies show that breast cancer is highly susceptible to hormone levels such as estrogen.   The more estrogen the greater the chance of breast cancer returning.  Moderate exercise reduces the estrogen level, and suppresses tumor growth and the recurrence of tumors, therefore reducing the chance that breast cancer will return.

The study, reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) involved 3,000 nurses with breast cancer, over several years.   The results showed that women with breast cancer who exercised moderately, three to five hours per week, were 50 percent less likely to die from breast cancer.  JAMA goes on to say that women do not need to be fanatical about exercise, but gradually build up to moderate.  Any increase in activity lowers the risk of breast cancer death.   At some point, the benefit of exercise levels off.

So what is moderate exercise?  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines moderate exercise as activity that increases breathing or heart rate.  It's the level of effort expended for a healthy person to mow the lawn, dance, swim, bike on level ground, or walk briskly. For more specific information about how moderate exercise is defined, log onto this Web Site:

JAMA estimates that the benefit of increased exercise not only improves health by reducing excess estrogen, but causes overall body health due to better moods, body image, and self-esteem.

Unfortunately, the tendency among women diagnosed with breast cancer is that they cut back their activity levels, especially in obese women, making their chances of survival even less. But increasing activity, even as much as an hour a week of walking or other moderate activity will likely improve a breast cancer patient's chance of survival, according to JAMA.

For more information, read about the myths of breast cancer:

To learn more and to see a video about breast cancer concerns, visit this Web site:





For More Information: