By Kelly Jad'on

A breast cancer diagnosis means making choices in the treatment of the disease. Each year, hundreds of women are diagnosed with breast cancer. "In 2009, an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the United States." The American Cancer Society reports that outside of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common among women – 1 in 4 cancers diagnosed is breast cancer. Of these malignancies, most are also invasive, spreading into the tissue around the breast.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that each year, about 210,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Around 40,000 each year, die from breast cancer.

"Mammography, performed every 1 to 2 years for women aged 40 years or older, can reduce mortality by approximately 20%–25% over 10 years."  The CDC's 2010 goal is to reduce breast cancer death rate through early detection by 20% and increase to 70% the amount of women age 40 and up who have received a mammogram in the last two years.--National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP)

Revised  guidelines were issued this week by the USPSTF, a government-appointed, independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention.  They recommend that women receive mammography screening every other year for those aged 50 to 74.  This alters previous thoughts of universal mammography screening for women aged 40 to 49.

MD Anderson disagrees.  "We believe the benefits of an annual mammogram outweigh the risks for women, starting at age 40," says Therese Bevers, M.D., professor and director of M. D. Anderson's Cancer Prevention Center.

The National Breast Cancer Coalition considers all points of view, seeking to point our the myths and realities of the disease:

"We encourage women to make informed decisions regarding screening based on the actual evidence.  To learn more about the myths and truths concerning breast cancer and screening, and to find out how to take action against this disease."

Christina Applegate: Her Personal Decision

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) Represents 1-5% Cases In U.S.

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