Test Your Breast Health IQ

Halloween is no doubt the first occasion that comes to mind when the calendar hits October every year. Second place, however, may belong to Breast Cancer Awareness Month — when the entire country appears to think pink via a variety of pink-ribbon fundraising events, the pink illumination of the Empire State Building and other landmarks, and even the pinking up
of NFL team uniforms. 

The annual campaign intends to increase awareness of the disease, to raise funds to fight it and to promote early testing with regular mammograms and exams — and for good cause. In women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths, of which there are more than 40,500 each year. 

Such staggering statistics underscore the importance of being informed. To that end, here’s a little quiz to help spark a deeper understanding.

1. Which of the below is not a significant risk factor for breast cancer?
   1. Being 40 or older
   2. A prior diagnosis of breast cancer or ovarian cancer
   3. Your grandmother, aunt and/or cousin has had breast cancer
   4. Your mother, sister and/or daughter has had breast cancer

2. To help reduce the risk for certain cancers, it is recommended to eat at least how many servings of fruits and vegetables each day?
   1. 5 
   2. 8 
   3. 3
   4. none of the above

3. It’s also recommended to limit alcohol intake to how many drinks per day?
   1. no more than 3
   2. no more than 2
   3. no more than 1
   4. none of the above

4. If you feel or observe the symptoms below, it is important to discuss which with your health-care provider?
   1. A lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area
   2. A change in the size or shape of the breast
   3. Dimpling or puckering in the skin of the breast 
   4. All of the above

5. It is recommended that women visit their family physician or gynecologist for a Well-Woman Exam. When should this occur?
   1. Every other year
   2. Each year
   3. Every three years
   4. Only if there are symptoms

6. The National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends that women begin getting a yearly mammogram at what age?
   1. 40 
   2. 45
   3. 50 
   4. 55

7. How many women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime?
   1. 1 in 4 
   2. 1 in 3 
   3. 1 in 8 
   4. 1 in 10 

8. Breast cancer in men is:
   1. non-existent
   2. common
   3. an impending epidemic
   4. rare

9. Based on how aggressive cancerous cells are, breast cancer tumors are often graded on a scale of: 
   1. 1 to 4
   2. 1 to 3 
   3. 1 to 5
   4. none of the above

10. Malignant tumors are “staged” by the health-care team to help determine how far the disease has progressed and the best treatment options. How many stages of breast cancer are there?
    1. 3 
    2. 2
    3. 5
    4. 4

11. The stage of a tumor is based on which of the following factors?
    1. The size of the tumor within the breast 
    2. The number of lymph nodes affected
    3. Whether or not the breast cancer has invaded other organs 
    4. All of the above

12. Stage 2 breast cancer indicates:
    1. The cancer cells are confined to a very limited area.
    2. There is evidence of cancer invading surrounding tissues near the breast
    3. There is evidence that cancer has begun to grow or spread
    4. Cancer has spread beyond the breast to other areas of the body

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