Breast Cancer Australia has ongoing awareness and prevention campaigns including our 'One in 11 women will be diagnosed before the age of 75' message in conjunction with our daily 'pink ribbon' message. Awareness and prevention continues to be a driving factor in reducing the number of deaths from breast cancer. Early detection is the key to successful treatment.

Breast cancer is the most common of all women cancers and accounts for over 25% of all cancers diagnosed. The incidence of breast cancer in women has risen over 20% from 1996 to 2006. In Australia in 2006 a total of 12,614 women and 102 men were diagnosed with breast cancer.

The mortality rate of Australian women with breast cancer has stabilised from 1996 to 2006: in 2006 there were 2,618 deaths compared to 2,568 in 1996. Despite the significant loss of life, survival prospects continue to improve. Over 96% of women will survive at least one year after diagnosis, and almost 87% will survive five years. Women whose cancer is still contained in the breast when diagnosed have a 90% chance of surviving five years, compared with a 20% five-year survival chance when the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis.

Ongoing national research projects and the implementation of best practice at medical and diagnostic levels have significantly increased the chances of survival today.

There is no known preventative treatment for breast cancer. However there are now more rapid detection methods which can greatly reduce the time taken for accurate testing and detection and therefore treatment of a malignant tumour. This is crucial in reducing the chances of metastasis.

Detection methods include: regular self examination, medical examination with your local general practitioner and screening mammography conducted by BreastScreen Australia on 132050.

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Symptoms include:

• Changes to the nipple
• Unusual discharge from the nipple
• Changes in the skin of the breast
• Lump, lumpiness or thickening of the breast
• A change in the shape or size of a breast
• Unusual persistent pain

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It is not possible to say what exactly causes breast cancer. However, research shows that some factors might increase a woman’s risk or chance of developing breast cancer.

Risk factors include:

• Getting older. This is the most common risk factor; about 13% of new cases are among women aged 20-44, 61% among women aged 45-69 and 26% among women over 70
• Having a family history
• Previously being diagnosed with breast cancer

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Types of medical treatment include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation Therapy

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Diet and exercise can help to prevent breast cancer. The following lifestyle habits are encouraged:

• Eating five or more portions a day of fruit and vegetables
• Eating regular servings of wholegrain cereal fibres and wheat bran
• Drinking two litres of water per day
• A minimum of 30 minutes aerobic exercise three times a week or taking a brisk 30 minute walk five times a week
• Having a diet consisting of low-fat, high-fibre whole foods such as the leafy green vegetables, wholemeal products and pulses
• Calcium intake should be around 1000-1200mg per day
• Red meat, full-fat dairy products, sugar, salt and spicy foods should be limited
• Alcohol consumption should also be taken in moderation
• Maintaining a healthy weight to height ratio to ensures that your body is able to adequately deal with every day activities
• Charred meats should be particularly avoided, since they contain carcinogenic compounds

An integral part of Breast Cancer Australia’s awareness and prevention program is to continue to increase community awareness of breast cancer and make the Australian community completely aware of the benefits of early detection.

Retail program

Throughout Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland Breast Cancer Australia regularly has information stalls set up in shopping centres, supermarkets and other retail outlets distributing information about breast cancer prevention. This also provides opportunity for our advocates to talk to members of the community on a face-to-face basis about preventative measures educating the community of the benefits of early detection.

Door-Knock

Breast Cancer Australia nationally knocks on over 1 million doors per annum. Our advocates distribute to both residences and businesses printed information about cancer prevention, in particular the benefits of cancer preventative measures such as diet and exercise and the benefits of regular screening for early detection.