Breast cancer is the second leading cancer among women in the United States. A woman has a 12 percent chance of developing breast cancer at some point in her life. The United States has the highest rates of breast cancer in the entire world.

Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in the leading cause of death by cancer in women. In the United States alone, more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year.

Every woman should perform monthly breast examinations on herself. Doing so makes her more familiar with her body and when changes are happening, she is much more apt to notice. Any lumps or hardening of the breast tissue should be noted along with a misshapen nipple or discharge. Soreness may accompany these changes but not every one feels pain in the earliest stages of cancer.

When a woman is 40 , she should begin scheduling regular mammograms. A mammogram is capable of catching cancer in its early stages. Because of self-exams and mammograms, cancer is being caught earlier and more women are surviving.

Diagnosing breast cancer in its earliest stages often makes it possible for a woman to have other treatments besides mastectomy. Not only will she be more likely to survive breast cancer, but she will also be more likely to come through without the loss of a breast.

After a diagnosis of breast cancer is made, a woman has several choices for treatment depending on the type and stage of her breast cancer. Treatments for breast cancer include: radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, lumpectomy, mastectomy and removal of lymphatic tissue under the arm. There are times a woman may choose to have both of her breasts removed in an effort to prevent breast cancer from occurring or reoccurring.

Some of the side effects caused by breast cancer treatments may include fatigue, nausea, lymphedema, compromised immune system, pain and depression. Sometimes breast cancer does come back. Depression is caused by losing one or both breasts and/or a fear for one’s life even after the cancer has been declared “cured”.

Men can develop breast cancer although this is uncommon. When a man is diagnosed with breast cancer he must also choose from the same kinds of therapies as a woman.