Oct 2, 2009 4:03 pm US/Central
Early Detection Key In Breast Cancer Survival
BOSTON (CBS) ―
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Breast cancer awareness ribbon (File image)
Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
October is
Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a new report from the American Cancer Society shows how important early detection and treatment is for women, CBS station WBZ-TV reports.
Lynda Wertheim was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at the age of 48. "You learn what's important in life," she says.
Almost 12 years later, she's living life to its fullest, and there are more and more women out there like Lynda. According to a new report, the death rate from breast cancer has dropped more than 2% a year for the past decade.
That means this year alone 15,000 lives will be saved.
Dr. Freya Schnabel, Director of Breast Surgery at NYU Langone Medical Center says much of the improvement in breast cancer mortality is a result of early detection. Identifying major risk factors like genetics and taking postmenopausal hormones has also improved the survival rate.
The report estimates 192,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. As of 2006, 2.5 million women in the U.S. were living with breast cancer. And 40,000 women are expected to die from the disease this year.
There is still a racial disparity. Forty percent more African American women are dying of breast cancer than white women.
"There is a suggestion that there may be a more aggressive variant of disease," Dr. Schnabel says. "That's seen particularly in young African American women.
But the latest statistics show death rates are dropping across the board for all women.
Lynda says breast cancer shouldn't be considered a death sentence. "I think the first reaction many people have when they are diagnosed with breast cancer," she says, "Is that they're going to die, but they're not."
Experts stress the key to winning the battle against breast cancer is to get an annual mammogram starting at age 40. For those of you who may forget when it's time for your next mammogram, try to schedule one around your birthday every year. That's an easy way to remember.
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