Imaginis.com is the breast cancer and women's health online resource. Our mission is to provide reliable, in-depth information on breast cancer and related women's health issues. Within our thousands of pages of physician-edited information, we explain complicated medical terms in everyday language to assist you in making informed decisions.

To coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States, the National Breast Cancer Coalition (NBCC) recently released the results of a survey to determine how informed women are about breast cancer. While over three-fourths of those surveyed considered themselves knowledgeable about breast cancer, according to the NBCC survey, this was often not the case. The results highlight the need for an accurate public dialogue about the disease.

Friday, October 19, 2007, has been designated National Mammography Day in the United States. Women are encouraged to use this day as a reminder to make an appointment to get a mammogram. Mammography, an x-ray examination of the breasts, is considered by experts at the “gold standard” in breast cancer detection. Mammography can help detect breast cancer years before a lump can be felt by physical touch. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the greater the chances it can be successfully treated.

Who is at risk for breast cancer? What are the warning signs of breast cancer? Does nipple discharge indicate breast cancer? Does nutrition and diet affect breast cancer risk? Does breast feeding increase the risk of breast cancer? Does breast size affect breast cancer risk? How common are breast lumps? Who should get a mammogram? Does taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause increase the risk of breast cancer?

Read this article for answers to these and other questions about breast cancer.

A recent study shows that some women taking commonly prescribed drugs to treat breast cancer tend to stop their treatment due to side effects. The study focused two specific drugs, Aromasin and Femara. These drugs are often prescribed after breast cancer surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy to help prevent a recurrence of the disease. In the study, 13% of women stopped taking the drugs due to side effects such as joint and muscle pain. Tamoxifen is another drug used to treat breast cancer, may be another option for women suffering side effects from these drugs, according to the researchers.