Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in Canadian women

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – This year, about 3,500 women in BC will be diagnosed with breast cancer, while 600 others will die from it. It’s the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women and in a small number of men.

Dr. Carolyn Gotay with the Cancer Prevention Centre at UBC says a person’s lifestyle is a major factor, but there are preventative measures you can take.

“Maintaining a healthy body weight, maintain an active lifestyle, limit alcohol consumption and if women can breastfeed their babies, it has a long-term positive impact on preventing breast cancer.”

She adds a woman’s age is also a major factor. “Eight per cent are diagnosed at the age of 50 years of age and older. The risk factors for getting breast cancer, the biggest risk factors, are being a woman and being older, but it does strike people who are younger as well.”

Gotay says thanks to our laid-back lifestyle on the West Coast, BC has one of the lowest mortality rates when it comes to breast cancer.

Mammograms in BC are free and it’s encouraged to get one, once every two years after the age of 50.

Quick Facts:

• Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in Canadian women.
• Up to 42 per cent of breast cancers are linked to lifestyle factors.
• BC has one of the lowest incidence rates and has the second lowest mortality rate of breast cancer in the country for those women who do get breast cancer.
• In 2014, an estimated 3,500 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in British Columbia, and approximately 600 will die from the disease.
• Over 80 per cent of new breast cancers diagnosed each year in BC are in women age 50 or over.
• Mammograms help find cancer in its earliest stages – when there are more treatment options and a better chance for successful treatment.
• Research has shown a 25 per cent reduction in deaths from breast cancer among women who are screened through the BC Cancer Agency’s Screening Mammography Program.