Navigating The Breast Cancer Journey, Part 1: Risk Factors And Diagnosis

Course overview

Breast cancer is the most common cancer, excluding skin cancer, that women may have to face in their lifetimes. About one in eight women (12%) will have a lifetime probability of developing breast cancer. Overall, of an estimated 39,920 deaths from breast cancer this year, 39,510 will be women and 410 will be men. The good news is that mortality rates from cancer for women continued to decline 1.6% between 2004 and 2008. This has resulted in a 15.3% decrease in cancer mortality in women since 1990, of which breast cancer accounts for 34% of this decrease. Healthcare professionals as a team can be excellent sources of information and support to patients and their significant others during every phase of the disease continuum. This module explains the disease, risk factors, diagnostics and treatments.