Maybe its because almost everyone knows someone whos had it. Or because it strikes many women in the prime of their lives. Whatever the reason, the raw statistics are frightening in themselves:

• Breast cancer strikes one out of every 8 American women.
• It is the most common form of cancer among women in the U.S.
• 185,000 new cases are discovered annually.
• Breast cancer causes more deaths than any other form of cancer in women under age 55. (Lung cancer is the leader beyond that age.)

Now for the good news: Breast cancer has a very high cure rate, with 97 percent of women surviving for 5 years if the cancer is diagnosed early. Indeed, the death rate from breast cancer has been dropping for the past 5 years for white and Hispanic women -- though not for African Americans or Asian/Pacific Islanders. Unfortunately, some women are so frightened of the "big C" that they dont call their physician even when they find a lump. Doctors can do much to fight this killer, but only if you give them the opportunity. It is impossible to overemphasize the importance of performing regular breast self-exams and getting regular mammograms, especially during the high-risk years that surround menopause.