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Breast cancer

Breast cancer is a tumour which starts in breast tissue. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australian women.

If all Australian women lived to the age of 75 years, then one in 11 women would develop breast cancer before this age. Over 11,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Australia.

Breast cancer can occur at any age. The average age of women when they are diagnosed with breast cancer is 58 years. However, one-third of women diagnosed with breast cancer are younger than 50 years.

Breast cancer can also develop in men, although this is rare. Male breast cancer accounts for about 1 per cent of all breast cancer.

Find out more   
Go to our Online library - Care and support section
   Read Breast cancer - a practical guide    
            Breast reconstruction
         Guide for partners of women with breast cancer 
            HRT and cancer risk - look in the Prevention section
           Temporary breast prosthesis 

National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (NBOCC) - a one-stop-shop for comprehensive information about all stages and aspects breast and ovarian cancer. Sites for health professionals, the broader community and breast cancer support. Includes a section for men with breast cancer.
BreastHealth - breast cancer information for women and their families - a comprehensive site with excellent information about all aspects, types and stages of breast cancer. Part of the NBCC.
 
See also 
Early detection on this website.

Breast cancer in younger women
 
How common is breast cancer in younger women?
About 11,500 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year – only about 700 (6 per cent) of these women are under 40. Seventy-five per cent of women diagnosed are aged 50 years and over.

What are the survival rates for younger women with breast cancer?
The most recent Australian data shows that over all stages of the disease about 80 per cent of women aged between 30 and 39 will be alive five years after diagnosis. This compares with a five-year survival rate of about 85 per cent for women over 50. These rates differ because breast cancers in younger women
are often larger and more aggressive. The survival rates of many women with early breast cancer will be better than the overall rates given above because the earlier the cancer is detected, the better the rate of survival.

Should women under 40 be having regular mammograms?
Regular screening mammograms are not recommended for women under 40. Younger women have denser breasts than older women. This means the effectiveness of the mammogram in finding breast cancer early is greatly reduced. Generally, breasts become less dense as women get older, particularly after menopause.

What can younger women do to find breast cancer early?
It’s important that all women know the look and feel of their breasts. Getting to know what is normal for them will help them to recognise any new or unusual breast changes. Breast awareness means looking at your
breasts and feeling them regularly, maybe while showering or dressing. There is no particular method that should be used and it can be done at any time of the month.

Things to look out for include
 a lump or lumpiness
 any change in the shape or appearance of the breast such as dimpling or redness
 an area that feels different to the rest
 discharge from the nipple
 any change in the shape or appearance of the nipple such as pulling in or scaliness
 pain.

Finding breast cancer early means women have more treatment options and a better chance of survival.
 
 


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