Saving woman's life by finding breast cancer early

Why it is important to find breast cancer early

Breast cancers that are found because they are causing symptoms are larger. Breast cancers found during screening exams are smaller. The size of the cancer and how far it has spread are the most important factors in predicting the prognosis of this disease.

The goal of screening exams for breast cancer

The goal of screening exams for breast cancer is to find cancers before they start to cause symptoms.  Screening refers to tests and exams used to find cancer in people who do not have any symptoms. Early detection means getting cancer diagnosed earlier than otherwise might have occurred.

Early detection tests for breast cancer save thousands of lives each year.

Most doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer save thousands of lives each year and that many more lives could be saved if women and their healthcare providers took advantage of these tests. Following the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer improves the chances that breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully.