Education and Prevention

Because early detection is a woman's best defense against breast cancer, the Palmetto Health Breast Center devotes many resources to educating women about the disease. Through educational initiatives and community events such as our annual Walk for Life, we're spreading the word about the importance of breast self-exams, mammograms and research.

About Breast Cancer

The most common malignancy in women is breast cancer. Nationally, about 182,460 women and 1,990 men will develop breast cancer this year. Breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women. In South Carolina, an estimated 2,600 cases of female breast cancer will be diagnosed this year. When breast cancer is detected early, the five-year survival rate is greater than 95 percent.

Risk Factors

• Simply being female is the greatest risk factor
• Women older than 40
• Women older than 35 whose mother or sister has had breast or ovarian cancer or father had prostate cancer
• Women who have never been pregnant or who first become pregnant after age 30
• Women who have had cancer in one breast or atypical ductal hyperplasia (pre-cancer)
• Women who started menstruation before age 12 or menopause at age 55 or older
• Women who are obese with excessive caloric and fat intake

Anything that increases your chance of getting cancer is a risk factor. Anything that decreases your chance of developing cancer is cancer prevention. If you want to self-assess your risk factors, take the free, online Breast Cancer Risk Assessment. To learn more about your genetic risk, call the University of South Carolina Department of Genetic Counseling at (803) 779-4928 or 1-800-544-9866, extension 229 or 227.

Walk for Life is one of Palmetto Health's signature community events combining breast cancer awareness and fund-raising. The first Walk was held in 1991 and was organized in memory of those who lost their battle with breast cancer and to honor the women and men who have survived the disease. The goal is to remind people that the first step in the fight against breast cancer is that early detection is the best protection! Net proceeds from the walk are used to fund breast cancer education, early detection efforts, patient support and research at the Palmetto Health Breast Center. The event is held the first Saturday in October at Finlay Park in observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information about participating, volunteering or being a sponsor for the Walk for Life, call the Palmetto Health Foundation at (803) 434-7275 or e-mail the Walk Coordinator.