Breast Cancer
Awareness
Alpha Tau Xi
Presentation

What is Breast Cancer?
• Breast cancer is a disease in which
malignant (cancer) cells form in the
tissues of the breast.
• Breast cancer is the second leading
cause of death among women.

Breast Cancer

Symptoms
• A painless lump in the breast
• Changes in breast size or shape
• Swelling in the armpit
• Nipple changes or discharge
• Breast pain may also be a symptom
as well.

Rare Signs to Be aware of
• Inflammatory breast cancer is one of
the most uncommon types of breast
cancer that causes no distinct lump.
• May cause the skin to become
thick, red, and look pitted. The area
will become warm or tender with a
rash-like look.

Inflammatory Breast
Cancer

Who is Affected?
• One in eight women will
be diagnosed with breast cancer in
their lifetime.
• Although breast cancer in men is
rare, an estimated 2,150 men will be
diagnosed with breast cancer and
approximately 410 will die each year.

Breast Cancer in the U.S.
• Breast cancer is the most commonly
diagnosed cancer in women
• Each year it is estimated that over
220,000 women in the United States
will be diagnosed with breast cancer
and more than 40,000 will die.

Global Outlook
• breast cancer is the most common
cancer among women worldwide
• hundreds of thousands of women
each year are affected in countries at
all levels of modernization.

Things Are Looking Up
• Death rates from breast cancer have
been declining since about 1990, in
part to better due to screening
and early detection, increased
awareness, and continually
improving treatment options.

Should We Try Harder?
• Majority of the funding goes to
science aimed at treating the
disease.
• Five percent goes to prevention
efforts.

Try Harder Cont’d
• Mortality rates plummeted in the 1990s,
when mammograms first became widely
used, they’ve declined less than 3 percent
a year since then.
• Researchers get funding and tenure by
publishing papers, not looking for a cure.

Always Stay Aware
• Even with the lowered rates of breast
cancer, always stay aware of your
body.
• A breast self exam is a check-up a
woman does at home.

Be Aware Cont’d
• The best time to do a self breast exam
is about 3 - 5 days after your period starts
• Your breasts are not as tender or lumpy at
this time in your monthly cycle.
• If you have gone through menopause, do
your exam on the same day every month.

How to Do Self Checks
• Place your right hand behind your head. With the
middle fingers of your left hand, gently yet firmly
press down using small motions to examine the
entire right breast.
• Next, sit or stand. Feel your armpit, because
breast tissue goes into that area.
• Gently squeeze the nipple, checking for
discharge. Repeat the process on the left breast.
• Use one of the patterns shown in the diagram to
make sure that you are covering all of the breast
tissue.

How-to Cont’d
• Look at your breasts directly and in the
mirror. Look for changes in skin
texture, such as
dimpling, puckering, indentations, or skin
that looks like an orange peel.
• Also note the shape and outline of each
breast.
• Check to see if the nipple turns inward.

Example

Prevention
• Self checks are the best way to avoid
tragic results
• Educate yourself
• Learn more about your body

Other Side of Self-Exams
• Current thinking of scientists is that
once a month self checks play a
small role in finding cancer therefore
it is important to know your breast
and be aware of changes even after
during self checks.
• To be sure of accuracy, go over the
self-check technique with your
doctor.

Who to Ask
Breast cancer is a sensitive subject for
those who are new to finding it.
• Speaking with medical Oncologists
and private women’s groups will help
encourage treatment and faster
recovery.
• www.cancercenter.com/
• www.womenshealth.gov

References
• http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
breast-cancer-facts
• Medline Plus
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/e
ncy/article/001993.htm 2013