MEDICAL SURFARI: ANSWERS ARE THERE IN BREAST CANCER FIGHT

Early in the 20th century, the words "cancer" and "breast" weren't even mentioned in polite company. Great strides have been made since, and today, not only can we talk about breast cancer openly, we can find answers to our questions about prevention, detection, treatment and recovery. These answers give women the power to make appropriate decisions on the quality of their lives.

Facts and figures: About 80 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have NO known risk factors. From 5 to 10 percent have a family history of breast cancer.

Only 10 percent have some risk factor. In 1997, about 180,200 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. This is the equivalent of 493 women each day.

During the 10 years of the Vietnam War, 58,000 men and women died. During that same period 330,000 women died of breast cancer. It is not known what causes cancer, but every woman is at risk. Overall ages combined, white women are more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women, but the latter are more likely to die of breast cancer.

Risk factors: The risk of developing breast cancer is 10.2 percent, but dying from the disease is only 3.6 percent. Much of the risk is after age 75. A family history of breast cancer in a parent, sibling or child increases twofold to threefold a woman's chance of developing the disease. Women at the highest risk are those with a history of breast cancer.

Women who have early menstruation, late menopause and late first pregnancies are at increased risk. Although fibrocystic disease has been shown to increase risk, it is a relatively imprecise diagnosis. Consequently, it is difficult to forecast risk based on this diagnosis.

Symptoms and what to look for: Each month a woman's breasts go through temporary changes associated with menstruation. While 90 percent of these are not cancerous, new lumps should be examined. Lumps are most common in the small sacs that produce milk. More than 80 percent of breast cancers are discovered as a new lump by the woman herself.

Cancer kills thousands: Routine mammograms reduce breast cancer deaths by 25 to 35 percent in women older than 50 who don't have any symptoms and by a lesser degree in woman younger than 50 who don't have symptoms. The American Cancer Society recommends a baseline mammogram between ages 35 and 39, repeat studies at two-year intervals between ages 40 and 49 and yearly in women older than 50.

Things to notice: You may notice a swelling in the armpit.

* Pain or tenderness in the breast.

* A lump, often the first symptom, is usually visible on a mammogram (an X-ray of the breast) long before it can be seen or felt.

* Any changes in texture, shape or temperature of the breast: a reddish, pitted surface like the peel of an orange.

* A change in the nipple: a dimpled appearance, itching or burning sensation, scaling or unusual discharge