Oct. 29 --There are over two million breast cancer survivors in the United States today.

Oct. 28 --Breast cancer cannot yet be prevented. However, there are risk reduction options available for very high-risk women, such as the estimated five to ten percent of women in the United States with multiple close blood relatives who have had the disease. Strategies for high-risk women include genetic counseling and enrollment in specialized screening programs that include regular mammograms, frequent clinical breast exams and additional detection and monitoring techniques (such as MRI). After a personalized risk assessment, consultation with experts and careful consideration of all known side effects, risks and benefits, women can pursue other options. These can include taking tamoxifen (an anti-estrogen drug, FDA-approved for risk reduction), prophylactic mastectomy and/or oophorectomy (surgical removal of healthy breasts and/or ovaries) and participation in prevention studies and trials.

Oct. 27 -- Breast cancer incidence increases with age, rising sharply after age 40.

Oct. 26 -- About 77 percent of invasive breast cancers occur in women over age 50.

Oct. 25 -- The average age at diagnosis is 62.

Oct. 24 --Another factor that appears to increase breast cancer risk is being overweight or obese after menopause. Women who maintain a healthy weight or lose excess weight have a lower risk of breast cancer than overweight women. Breast cancer research also suggests that women should maintain a diet low in fat, exercise regularly, and avoid alcohol and smoking.

Oct. 23 --Although its incidence is low, men can develop breast cancer too. In 2003, 1,300 cases of male breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, and 400 men will die from this disease.

Oct. 22 --In 2003, 211,300 new cases of female invasive breast cancer – (cancer that has spread to nearby tissue, lymph nodes under the arm, or other parts of the body) and 55,700 cases of female in situ breast cancer (noninvasive cancer) will be diagnosed. Of these noninvasive breast cancers, approximately 85 percent will be DCIS – ductal carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells that are found only in the lining of a milk duct and have not spread outside the duct). Breast cancer alone is expected to account for 32 percent of all new cancer cases among women in 2003 and a new case will be diagnosed every two and a half minutes.

Oct. 21 --This year, 39,800 women are expected to die of breast cancer.

Oct. 20 --Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States, after skin cancer. Both its cause and its cure remain undiscovered. Based on the current life expectancy for women in the United States, one out of nine women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime – a risk that was one out of 14 in 1960.

Oct. 19 --Services are available for women who do not have health insurance or cannot afford a mammogram.

Oct. 18 -- Breast cancer does not discriminate based on ethnic background, family history or income. 70% of women who develop breast cancer have no identifiable risk factors.

Oct. 17 -- Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but if detected early, can be effectively treated. Early screenings and detection is the key against fighting this disease.

Oct. 16 --Breast cancer is the most common form of non-skin cancer in women. More than 203,000 cases will be diagnosed in the next year.

Oct. 15 -- One out of eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. All women are at risk and that risk does increase with age.