Women Age 50 Or Older Are At Great Risk Of Breast Cancer

This year in the United States, an estimated 180,000 women will learn they have breast cancer. Three-fourths of the cases of breast cancer occur in women age 50 or older, but it also affects younger women and about 1,600 men a year.

Reports show more women are getting breast cancer but no one knows all the reasons why, says Dr. Evelyn Crayton, Extension foods and nutrition specialist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Some increase may be a result of changes in the way women live -- postponing childbirth, taking replacement hormones and oral contraceptives, eating high-fat foods or drinking more alcohol.

The encouraging news is more and more breast cancer is being detected early, says Crayton. Currently, two-thirds of newly diagnosed breast cancers show no signs that cancer has spread beyond the breast. With prompt and appropriate treatment, the outlook for women with breast cancer is good. And, a majority of women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer are candidates for treatment that saves the breast.

The key to early detection is screening. The best available tool is a regular mammogram of the breast, followed by an annual clinical breast exam by a doctor, and monthly self-examinations.

Self-examinations at monthly intervals help women know their own breasts better and detect abnormalities between visits to the doctor. Other methods, such as ultrasound, CT scanning, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET scanning) may be helpful in clarifying the diagnosis for women who have suspicious breast changes.