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Breast Cancer Quiz

Test your breast cancer knowledge of breast cancer by taking our quiz.

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How much do you know about Breast Cancer?

Test your breast cancer knowledge of breast cancer by taking this quiz. Answers can be found below the questions.

1. Early detection of breast cancer is the key to successful treatment.
A. True B. False

2. Older women are more likely to develop breast cancer.
A. True B. False

3. More than half of breast lumps are cancerous.
A. True B. False

4. It’s OK to use deodorant on the day you have a mammogram.
A. True B. False

5. The best time to examine your breasts is two weeks after your period starts.
A. True B. False

6. Smoking may increase your risk for breast cancer.
A. True B. False

7. Breast cancer is often treated by surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
A. True B. False

8. Starting at age 30, women should have a mammogram every one or two years.
A. True B. False

9. A woman’s chances of developing breast cancer are higher if her mother, a sister, or daughter had it.
A. True B. False

10. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women ages 35 to 54.
A. True B. False

Answers:

1. Early detection of breast cancer is the key to successful treatment.

The correct answer is A. True.

More than 2.9 million U.S. women with a history of the disease are alive today, mainly because of early detection. The five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent if the cancer is detected before it spreads.

2. Older women are more likely to develop breast cancer.

The correct answer is A. True.

Breast cancer is more common in women over 55 years old. Women of any age can develop this disease, however.

3. More than half of breast lumps are cancerous.

The correct answer is B. False.

About 80 percent of breast lumps are not cancer.

4. It’s OK to use deodorant on the day you have a mammogram.

The correct answer is B. False.

Using deodorant can make the X-ray hard to read. You also should not use any lotions or powders under your arms or on your breasts that day.

5. The best time to examine your breasts is two weeks after your period starts.

The correct answer is B. False.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not recommend breast self-exams (BSEs) because evidence suggests BSEs do not lower risk for death from breast cancer. The ACS says BSEs are an option for women 20 and older as a means of familiarizing themselves with their breasts so they can notice changes more easily. Talking with your doctor about the benefits and limitations can help you decide if you should start performing BSEs. If you choose to do a BSE, the best time is one week after your period starts. Check your breasts on the first day of each month if you have gone through menopause.

6. Smoking may increase your risk for breast cancer.

The correct answer is A. True.

The ACS says although no direct link between smoking and breast cancer has been discovered, some studies suggest it might increase breast cancer risk. This is particularly true for women who start smoking as teens.

7. Breast cancer is often treated by surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

The correct answer is A. True.

Often, more than one type of treatment is needed.

8. Starting at age 30, women should have a mammogram every one or two years.

The correct answer is B. False.

Mammography is an important tool for detecting breast cancer early, when it’s easiest to treat. But the benefits and limitations of mammography vary based on factors like age and personal risk. Experts have different recommendations for mammography. Currently, the USPSTF recommends screening every two years for women ages 50 to 74. The ACS recommends yearly screening for all women ages 40 and older. Women should talk with their doctors about their personal risk factors before making a decision about when to start getting mammograms or how often they should get them.

9. A woman’s chances of developing breast cancer are higher if her mother, a sister, or daughter had it.

The correct answer is A. True.

The ACS says women who have a mother, sister, or daughter with breast cancer have about double the risk. Women whose close blood relatives from either the mother’s or father’s side of the family had breast cancer also have an increased risk for the disease.

10. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women ages 35 to 54.

The correct answer is B. False.

Heart disease is the leading cause.

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