Breast cancer is the second deadly cancer among women, after lung cancer (Breast Cancer, 2014). Cancer is a word that scares many people, especially if they have family members who have died or survived the disease. No one wants to know that they have been diagnosed with an illness, especially cancer. Many women don't take breast cancer seriously until it is diagnosed. Unfortunately, once this epidemic is diagnosed, a person's life is changed forever. Breast cancer is not discriminatory and can affect anyone, at any age. To prevent this disease it is necessary to take the necessary precautions to reduce risk factors. In fact, there are several local and national events to remind people of the existence of breast cancer. Many people don't know this, but there are numerous ways they can protect themselves from this disease or catch the disease early enough to treat it. If breast cancer is discovered early enough, it is quite easy to treat. With today's technology, most women survive breast cancer. I was recently diagnosed with this disease by a friend at the age of 40. She has faced a difficult and exasperating journey as she has lost both breasts and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. In addition to chemotherapy, other forms of treatment include surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy and vaccination. Although this disease usually occurs in women, men are also at risk for this disorder. Although breast cancer can be hereditary, research suggests there are numerous additional risk factors. The strongest and most common risk factor for breast cancer is age. As women age, the threat of this disease increases. In the United States, breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer (B...... middle of paper ...... any questions or concerns the patient may have along with annual checkups and self-exams, so hopefully the statistics will continue to decline. Ultimately, with time and technology, breast cancer may become obsolete. Works Cited Aronson, K. (2003: A Newly Identified Risk Factor for Breast Cancer), 1147. -8.Breast Cancer. (2014) Retrieved from American Cancer Society: www.cancer.orgBreast Cancer Risk Factors (2010), 32 (18), 82.Cauley, J., Song, A., Jingli, , S. A. and Cumings, J. A. (2007). Risk factors for breast cancer in older women: the relative contribution of bone mineral density and other established risk factors (2013) Stopping breast cancer prevention, 65 (10) , 95-105.womenshealth.org (2012, July 16).