Breast cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow out of control in one or both breasts. They can invade nearby tissues and form a mass, called a malignant tumor. The cancer cells can spread (metastasize) to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. Breast cancer is many women’s worst fear. But experts have made great progress in treating cancer. If it is found early, breast cancer can often be cured, and it is not always necessary to remove the breast.

The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade is a global philanthropic and cause marketing initiative of Avon Products, Inc. and the Avon Foundation. First created in the UK in 1992, the Crusade launched in the US in 1993 and Avon now supports breast cancer programs in 50 countries worldwide. The mission of the Avon Crusade is funding advancing access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on medically underserved populations.

Yes. Breast cancer in men is rare, however it does occur. Men who have an altered BRCA2 gene have higher rates of breast cancer than men without an altered gene.

Doctors do not know exactly what causes breast cancer. But some things are known to increase the chance that you will get it. These are called risk factors. The main risk factors for breast cancer include:1 Aging. Most breast cancer occurs in women older than 50, and the risk is greatest in women older than 60.2 Family history of breast cancer. You have a higher risk if a close family member, especially your mother or sister, has had breast cancer. Female hormones.

During a regular physical exam, your doctor can check your breasts to look for lumps or changes. Depending on your age and risk factors, the doctor may recommend that you have a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast. A mammogram can often find a lump that is too small to be felt. Sometimes a woman finds a lump during a breast self-exam. If you or your doctor finds a lump or other change, the doctor will want to take a sample of the cells in your breast. This is called a biopsy.

You cannot control some things that put you at risk for breast cancer, such as your sex and age. But you can change others. To stay as healthy as you can: If you drink alcohol, limit the amount. After menopause, even having one drink a day or less may increase the risk for breast cancer. Still, there is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, so it is very important to have regular exams and mammograms. Discuss your risk factors with your doctor to find out how often you should have a mammogram.

Every October begins the media blitz known as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Pink ribbons abound and the message you keep hearing is, "Get Your Mammogram!" No mention is ever made in the official NBCAM materials of the need to find the causes of cancer so that we can prevent it.

All women are at risk for breast cancer. Risk factors that may increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer include: age, family history, genetics, previous breast biopsy showing benign (non-cancerous) conditions, menstruation beginning at an early age, menstruation continuing past age 50, not having children, having a first child after age 30, and high fat diets. However, 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors.

Family history and genetics are only two of the risk factors associated with breast cancer. Women who carry mutations of certain genes (such as BRCA1, BRCA2, or p53) are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women with no known risk factors. As stated earlier, 80% of women who develop breast cancer have no known risk factors.

Any change in the normal appearance or texture of a woman’s breast may be an indication of breast cancer and should be examined by a physician. Common warning signs of breast cancer include a lump in the breast, an abnormal thickening of the breast tissue, or a change in density of the breast. Occasionally, breast cancer may be indicated by a lump under the arm, a redness of the skin over the breast, a change of the nipple (such as discharge or inversion), or a dimpling of the breast skin.

Though risk increases with age, young women may also get breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute: Women over 20 years of age should practice breast self-examination (BSE) every month. Regardless of age, women should promptly report any breast abnormalities to their physician. Also, young women at high risk for breast cancer may wish to ask their physician about beginning mammograms before age 40.

Men count for approximately 1,300 cases of breast cancer each year. It is estimated that 400 men die from the disease each year. Click here for more information about breast cancer in men.

In 2005, the American Cancer Society estimates that 211,240 women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. About 40,410 women will die from the disease this year.