BREAST CANCER FACTS*

•  Breast cancer, when detected early, can be cured.
•  5-year survival rate for localized breast cancer is 97%
•  12-year survival rate is 95% for cancers detected when less than 1 cm in size.
•  The American Cancer Society spends nearly $100 million a year to research a cure for breast cancer.
•  Over 2 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the United States today.
•  A woman's chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime is 1 in 8.
•  Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, aside from skin cancer.
•  Only lung cancer causes more cancer deaths in women.
•  Each year about 240,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed .
•  Nearly 40,000 women die from breast cancer each year .
•  About 2,000 male breast cancer cases are diagnosed each year, and 450 men will die from the disease.

MAMMOGRAPHY FACTS*

•  Mammography screening is the best way to detect breast cancer in its earlier stages and saves lives.
•  Screening mammography reduces breast cancer mortality.
•  25%-30% for women ages 50-70 and 18% for women ages 40-50.
•  Early detection gives women new options for breast-conserving therapy.
•  4 of every 10 women don't get annual mammograms.
•  50% of women report moderate to extreme discomfort**
•  75% of women who don't return for future studies give pain as the reason***
•  88% of the pre-invasive breast cancer diagnosed is ductal carcinoma in situ .
•  5% to 10% of women undergoing screening mammography will be advised to undergo additional testing based on an abnormal or inconclusive mammography screening.

* 2007-2008 Cancer Facts and Figures, American cancer Society, USA
** Dullum, Joanna R. et al., Radiology 2002
*** Carney, Patricia, Cancer, July 15, 2002