When I was a medical student we never used the words cancer and cure in the same sentence unless we were talking about the far off "year 2000".  Well, 2000 has come and gone and now--that's changed!  Now, more than 95% of women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will survive at least 5 years-considered a "cure" in the eyes of cancer specialists.  Great strides have also been made in treating later stage cancers and extending both length of life and quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

Despite this good news, breast cancer remains one of the most feared diseases of all women.  Women are scared by the misquoted statistic that one in eight women will get breast cancer; that means one in eight women who live to be 93. To optimize your chances of beating breast cancer, practice monthly BSE, see your health care provider for an annual breast exam, and have your mammogram each year after age 40 or as recommended by your doctor. When diagnosed and treated early, breast cancer can be cured. . .And that is really good news.

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Created: 10/3/2001  -  Donnica Moore, M.D.