Alarming Facts About Breast Cancer
Some little known but alarming facts about breast cancer:
1. Breast cancer develop and grow much faster in younger women. Active cancer cells double every 3 months in women under 50 years old.
AGE AVERAGE TUMOR DOUBLING TIME
Under 50 years old Active cancer cells double in number every 3 months
50 - 70 years old Active cancer cells double in number every 5 months
Over 70 years old Active cancer cells double in number every 6 months
*Source: CANCER 71:3547-3551, 1993
2. The number of breast cancer cells has doubled 32 times before it can be detected by mammogram.
0 days 1 cell
3 months 2 cells
1 year 16 cells
2 years 256 cells
3 years 4,096 cells
4 years 65,536 cells
5 years 1,048,576 cells = 20 doublings but still undetectable by mammogram
6 years 16,777,216 cells = 24 doublings but still undetectable by mammogram
7 years 268,435,456 cells = 28 doublings but still undetectable by mammogram
8 years 4,294,967,296 cells = doubled 32 times normally detectable by mammogram at this stage
NOTE: 40 doublings (approximately 10 years) considered lethal
3. Incidence and rate of breast cancer is increasing worldwide, including the Philippines.
4. Men can also get breast cancer.