Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer globally, as well as a leading cause of cancer-related death among women. According to the World Health Organization, 2.3 million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020, and 685,500 deaths were attributed to the disease in that same year. At the end of 2020, 7.8 million women around the world were living with breast cancer.
In countries with breast cancer screening programs, most breast cancers are caught in early stages and are asymptomatic. Women may present with more advanced, symptomatic disease for a variety of reasons, including lack of access to medical care, absence of screening programs in some countries, failure of detection on screening imaging, age younger than that recommended for initiation of screening (ie, 40 years or younger), unawareness of breast cancer risk factors, or rapid growth of a subset of breast cancers.
The signs and symptoms of breast cancer vary, and patients present in a wide variety of ways, highlighting the importance of clinical vigilance and a thorough workup when breast cancer is suspected. Early and effective treatment is important for improving outcomes.
How familiar are you with red flags for breast cancer? Test your knowledge with this quick quiz.
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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.
Cite this: Kelly McCann. Fast Five Quiz: Red Flags for Breast Cancer - Medscape - Feb 02, 2022.
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