Myth: Breast cancer is preventable.

Fact: At this time there is no known way to prevent breast cancer, and the cause of the disease is still being researched. Early detection followed by prompt treatment offers the best chance to treat breast cancer successfully.

Myth: Only women get breast cancer.

Fact: About 400 men in the US die each year from breast cancer.

Myth: Only women with known 'risk factors' get breast cancer.

Fact: More than 70 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have no identifiable 'risk factors'. All women are at risk.

Myth: Only women with a family history of breast cancer are at risk.

Fact: The majority of women with breast cancer have no family history of the disease. A woman whose mother, sister, daughter or grandmother had breast cancer has an increased risk of developing the disease. These women should be screened earlier and more often.

Myth: Breast cancer is contagious.

Fact: Cancer is not contagious. It results from uncontrollable growth of cells in a person's own body. These changes cannot affect other people's cells.

Myth: Small breasted women cannot get breast cancer.

Fact: The amount of breast tissue a woman has does not affect her risk of developing cancer.

Myth: Breast-feeding causes/protects against breast cancer.

Fact: No studies have shown that breast-feeding causes breast cancer. Some studies have even suggested that breast-feeding may reduce a woman's risk of developing the disease. However, studies are ongoing on this topic. A woman who breast-feeds her children can still get breast cancer.

Did you know that

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.

Breast cancer can occur without any warning signs, and more than 80 per cent of breast lumps are not cancerous.

If breast cancer is diagnosed and treated early, the five-year survival rate is more than 90 percent.

The average size breast lump found by getting regular mammograms is about -inch in diameter.

The average size breast lump found by regular breast self-examination is about -inch in diameter.

There is no reason to be afraid to learn about breast cancer; the facts are encouraging and reassuring. The most important thing to remember about breast cancer is: your best protection is early detection.

Who is at risk

The greatest risk factor for developing breast cancer is being female.

The exact causes of breast cancer are not known, however studies show that the risk of breast cancer increases as a woman gets older.

Research has shown the following conditions increase a woman's chances of getting breast cancer:

Age: About 75 percent of all breast cancers are found in women over the age of 50. This does not mean that younger women are not at risk, although it is uncommon.

Personal history of breast cancer: Women who have had breast cancer face an increased risk of getting breast cancer in their other breast.