When you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer - one thing you don't want to do is google. There's a lot of misinformation out there so it's important to find trusted sources. Here's some info to get you started.
1. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in American women besides skin cancer. One in every 8-10 women will be diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime.
2. The reports of what may or may not put you at risk can leave you confused. To help determine your risk, ask yourself these six simple questions:
How old are you? Dr. Kathleen Greatrex - Chair, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Lourdes Health System says, “Risk increases with age.”
3. When did you get your first period? Women who start menstruating before age 12 have an increased risk of developing breast cancer later in life. These women have had longer exposure to the hormone estrogen, which may be linked to the disease. At what age did you have your first child? Women who had their first full-term pregnancy after age 30 have an increased breast-cancer risk. Women who have never had a child also have a higher risk.
4. How many first-degree relatives have had the disease? Many women who get breast cancer have no family history. But a positive diagnosis in your sisters, daughters or mother — especially before age 50 — increases your own chances
5. What is your race? Caucasian women are most often diagnosed with breast cancer, while African- American women often have more aggressive forms resulting in the lowest survival rates.
Check out 5 Things You Need to Know About Breast Cancer featuring Dr. Kathleen Greatrex - Chair, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Lourdes Health System and with even more details listen to this interview with Dr. Greatrex.