Mia Resnicow | Staff Writer
A woman’s annual mammogram can sometimes feel like a chore. While most chores can be put off, it’s important to prioritize a screening for breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer for women in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society, accounting for 30% of cancer diagnoses in women every year. It is also the second leading cause for cancer-related deaths among women, after lung cancer. Despite it being a widely discussed cancer, many misconceptions still exist, and it’s important to know the basics. Whether you’re concerned about personal risk, supporting a loved one or simply staying informed, here are eight key facts about breast cancer that everyone should know.
1. Breast Cancer Is More Common Than You Think.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 2025, and about 42,170 women will die from the disease. The average risk for a woman in the U.S for developing breast cancer is about 13 percent, a 1 in 8 chance.
Additionally, Black women have the highest death rate of breast cancer-related deaths. This is thought to be because Black women have the highest risk of triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive type of invasive breast cancer, more than any other racial or ethnic group.
2. More Women Are Surviving Breast Cancer in 2025.
The American Cancer Society reported in 2025 that, from 1989 to 2022, breast cancer death rates decreased 44% overall. This is believed to be the result of early diagnosis and improved treatments. There is about a 1 in 43 chance of a woman dying from breast cancer. Right now, there are more than 4 million breast cancer survivors within the U.S., including women still being treated, along with those who have completed treatment.
3. There Are Multiple Risk Factors.
Family history is likely the most commonly known risk factor for breast cancer; however, factors such as race and ethnicity, age, breast tissue density, radiation exposure to the chest before the age of 30 and lifestyle are all considered risk factors when screening for breast cancer.
Additionally, certain inheritable genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, can create higher risk for breast cancer, as well as late menopause and early menstruation, due to prolonged exposure to estrogen and progesterone hormones.
4. No Risk Factor Doesn’t Mean No Risk.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, having a risk factor does not automatically mean you will get breast cancer, and not having any risk factor doesn’t mean you can’t get the disease.
5. Not All Risk Factors Are Created Equally.
Not all risk factors are fixed. Lifestyle risk factors such as weight, alcohol consumption, physical activity, reproductive history and taking hormones can all be factors associated with developing breast cancer.
Older women who are overweight or have obesity have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, according to the CDC. Some hormone replacement therapy taken during menopause and oral contraceptives have also been found to raise the risk of developing breast cancer. Additionally, becoming pregnant for the first time after the age of 30 and not breastfeeding increases risk
as well.
6. Symptoms Can Occur Outside of the Breast.
Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. The most common symptom is a lump or mass in the breast; however, symptoms can also appear as swollen lymph nodes under the arms and near the collarbones, according to the American Cancer Society.
7. Not All Lumps Are Created Equally.
Not all lumps in the breast are cancerous. According to the American Cancer Society, fibroadenomas are the most common benign breast tumors in women under the age of 30. What often feels like hard, round lumps in the breast that move easily don’t typically hurt and may get larger when estrogen levels change. Other benign breast conditions include, but are not limited to, breast cysts, breast hematomas and adenosis.
8. Screenings, Screenings, Screenings.
Screenings can detect changes in the breast years before you might notice symptoms. Research shows that women who are screened regularly are more likely to find their breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat. According to the CDC, mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early.
Additionally, screening recommendations change based on one’s risk. The American Cancer Society recommends that women at higher risk, starting at the age of 30, get an annual MRI and mammogram, and women at average risk should get a yearly mammogram starting at the age of 45. ■
