According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Cancer is a broad term for a class of diseases characterized by abnormal cells that grow and invade healthy cells in the body. Breast cancer starts in the cells of the breast as a group of cancer cells that can then invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other areas of the body. While it is a disease that primarily impacts women, men can get breast cancer as well.

No one knows the exact causes of breast cancer. Doctors seldom know why one person develops breast cancer and another doesn’t, and most  who have breast cancer will never be able to pinpoint an exact cause. What we do know is that breast cancer is always caused by damage to a cell’s DNA.

According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. In fact, breast cancer death rates declined 40% from 1989 to 2016 among women. The progress is attributed to improvements in early detection. Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms.

Breast cancer is often found during a screening mammogram or breast exam, but sometimes a woman notices and reports a change in her breast. If you have a suspicious lump or an abnormal screening result, your doctor can order one or more of several tests.

Although you cannot prevent cancer, some habits that can help reduce your risk are:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Stay physically active
• Eat fruits and vegetables
• Do not smoke
• Limit alcohol consumption

For more tips and resources, please contact United Health Care’s nurse line at 1-800-504-5569 or visit www.myuhc.com.