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Breast Cancer Facts
- Leading cancer in women after skin cancer.
- Second leading cause of cancer deaths in women (after lung cancer).
- Most women do not die from breast cancer. Two million women in the US have been diagnosed; another one million do not
know they have the disease.
- About 77% of breast cancer occur in women ages 50 and older.
- 80 percent of breast lumps are non-cancerous.
- 2005 estimated new cases in women: 211,240
(invasive breast cancer) and 58,490 (non-invasive)
- 2005 estimated new cases in men: 1,690
- Estimated deaths in 2005: 40,870
Source: The American Cancer Society
Reconstruction Facts
- Breast reconstruction increased 113% from 29,607 procedures in 1992 to 62,930 in 2004.
- Breast reconstruction is the seventh most-often performed reconstructive surgery, after tumor removal, laceration repair,
scar revision, hand surgery, breast reduction and maxillofacial (facial) reconstruction.
- 7% of women who have breast reconstruction are between 19-34 years old; 46% are between 35-50; and 46% are 51 or older.
Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons
- Can be accomplished with implants or a woman's own skin and fat.
- Can be performed anytime: at the time of the mastectomy, or months or even years later.
- Can be customized to fit each woman';s individual preference.
- Cannot restore sensation in the breast lost when nerves are severed during mastectomy.
- Is usually covered by health insurance (if insurer covers mastectomy, it must also, by law, pay for reconstruction).
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