Breast cancer ranks as the most prevalent form of cancer among women in the United States, excluding skin cancer, making up roughly 30% (or one out of every three) of all new female cancer diagnoses annually. According to projections by the American Cancer Society, there will be 287,850 new instances of invasive breast cancer in the United States in the year 2022.

This form of cancer predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly women; the average age at diagnosis is 62. This indicates that 50% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are 62 years old or below at the time of diagnosis.  Very few women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are under the age of 45.

On the whole, it is estimated that the likelihood of a woman in the U.S. being diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life stands at approximately 13%, equivalent to a 1 in 8 probability. Fortunately, this implies that there is a 7 in 8 possibility that a woman will not experience this illness.

Even though symptoms of breast cancer may not appear immediately, these alterations are typically observed:

• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• New (unexplained) pain
• Changes in breast shape
• Headaches
• Changes in appetite
• Digestion problems
• Weight loss

Should you suspect that you are displaying signs indicative of breast cancer, it is imperative to consult your doctor immediately. Symptoms may not be apparent in the initial phases of breast cancer, allowing the disease to progress undetected for a period. It is vital to conduct self-exams of your breast tissue regularly each month and to schedule routine mammograms with your physician as these steps are essential for the early identification of the disease.