- Every 3 minutes a woman in the United States is diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

- Breast Cancer is the leading cancer among White and African American women. African American women are more likely to die from this disease.

- Breast Cancer incidence in women is 1 in 8.

The widespread use of screening mammograms has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause symptoms, but some are still not found early. The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer, but sometimes cancer can be tender and soft. If you find anything unusual, have your doctor check.

If your mammogram shows something concerning or if you have a lump that feels abnormal, you may be asked to have a breast needle aspirate or a biopsy. A small needle can be directed to the abnormal area, often with the assistance of a mammogram or ultrasound, and cells can be taken to diagnose the reason for the lump. If the needle aspirate does not yield a diagnosis then an open biopsy can help.

There are many tools and treatments that are available to diagnose and treast breast cancer. For more information visit these websites:

www.breastcancer.org

www.nlm.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer

www.nationalbreastcaner.org

www.thebreastcancersite.com