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by: TyroneRussom
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In the United States, the incidences of breast cancer are the highest in the entire world. Breast cancer affects 12 out of every 100 women in the U.S. at some point in their lifetime.

Lung cancer is the only cancer that kills more women in the United States. More than forty thousand women will die from breast cancer in the U.S. 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.

Mammograms should be done every two years beginning at 40 years of age. Mammograms are the best way to detect early stage breast cancer. It is because of mammograms and self exams that breast cancer is found early on and the fatality statistics have dropped in the last few years.

If breast cancer is caught at an early stage, a woman's chance of surviving is highly increased as is her chance of keeping both of her breasts.

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.

Issues associated with breast cancer surgery and treatment include: lymphedema (damage to the lymphatic vessels causing a build up of lymphatic fluid, usually due to lymph node removal), depression - losing one or both breasts can harm a woman's sense of confidence and the fear of dying may remain even after a woman has been pronounced clear of cancer. Reoccurrences do happen. Some cancer treatments are very hard on the body and can cause the immune system to be compromised. Cancer treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy often cause nausea and extreme fatigue.

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.