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Breast cancer is the
most common cancer
experienced by women
in Australia and is
the most common
cause of death from
cancer in Australian
women.
Every year over
13,000 Australian
women are diagnosed
with breast cancer.
That equates to 36
women being
diagnosed ever day.
Over 2,600
Australian women die
from breast cancer
every year. This
means that 7 women
lose their fight for
life due to breast
cancer every day.
The number of
Australian women
diagnosed with
breast cancer has
doubled in the last
20 years.
At present in
Australia, 100,000
women, their
families and
friends, are coping
or have had to cope,
with the
consequences of a
breast cancer
diagnosis.
9 out of 10 women
who are diagnosed do
not have a family
history of the
disease.
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"regular
exercise
and
keeping
physically
active
may
decrease
the risk
of
developing
breast
cancer" |
Age is the biggest
risk factor in
developing breast
cancer. More than
70% of breast cancer
develops in women
aged 50 or over.
The average age of
women being
diagnosed with
breast cancer is 59
years.
Young women get
breast cancer too,
with about 700 women
under 40 being
diagnosed each year.
Research suggests
that smoking,
especially for women
who have a family
history of breast
cancer, may increase
their risk of
developing breast
cancer.
Undertaking regular
exercise and keeping
physically active
may decrease the
risk of developing
breast cancer,
according to recent
research.
Keeping to a healthy
body weight,
especially after
menopause, and
eating a healthy,
varied diet rich in
fruit and vegetables
to avoid becoming
overweight or obese,
is recommended as
there is now
evidence that these
factors increase the
cancer risk at
several sites in the
body, including the
breast.
Avoid drinking
alcohol, or at least
limit intake to less
than 1 standard
drink per day, as
research suggests
that excessive
alcohol consumption
may increase the
risk of developing
breast cancer.
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"early
detection
is the
best
method
for
reducing
deaths
from
breast
cancer" |
Survival is lower if
the cancer has
already spread
outside the breast
when diagnosed. For
example, about 9 out
of 10 women whose
cancer is diagnosed
before it has spread
outside the breast
will be alive 5
years later.
However, if the
cancer has spread to
other parts of the
body, only about 2
out of 10 women will
be alive 5 years
later.
Research has shown
that breast
screening is the
most effective way
to detect breast
cancers early for
women aged 50-69
years, giving them a
greater chance of
survival. Women in
this age group, who
have a breast screen
every two years, can
reduce their chance
of dying from breast
cancer by at least
30%.
Mammography is not
always suitable for
younger women, so
monthly
self-examination is
recommended to
detect changes in
the breast, which
may indicate breast
cancer.
More than half of
all breast cancers
are detected by
women, or their
doctors, as a change
in the breast.
Recognising these
changes, and the
prompt and effective
investigation of
these changes, are
extremely important
in the early
detection of breast
cancer.
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