Key Facts/Risk Factors
True or False: Men can also get breast cancer.
What is one common warning sign that often appears as a lump?
A new lump or mass in the breast.
What is the primary screening tool for early detection of breast cancer?
Mammogram
What is the surgery called that removes only the tumor and nearby tissue?
Lumpectomy
I’m older than the Alma Mater statue and feed future Illini every year, but I’m not a building or a mascot. What am I?
The Morrow Plots
Which age group is breast cancer most commonly diagnosed in: under 30, 40–50, or 55+?
55+
What kind of change in the skin may look like an “orange peel” texture?
Skin dimpling or thickening
At what age do most guidelines recommend starting annual mammograms?
Around age 40
Which treatment uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells after surgery?
Radiation therapy
I hold over 60,000 fans and honor the 183 Illinois students who lost their lives in World War I—their names are carved into my columns. What landmark am I?
Memorial Stadium
About how many women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime?
About 1 in 8 women.
Name a change in the nipple that can be a warning sign.
Nipple inversion, discharge, or pain
How often should women age 55+ get mammograms, according to guidelines?
Every 2 years (or continue yearly)
Which therapy blocks estrogen or progesterone to slow or stop cancer growth?
Hormone (endocrine) therapy.
These two connected residence halls—named after pioneering women—once had a strict curfew for female students and are among the oldest dorms on campus. What are they called?
Busey–Evans Residence Halls
If breast cancer is caught early and localized, what is the approximate 5-year survival rate?
Around 99%
Some breast cancers don’t cause a lump. Name one other early warning sign that should never be ignored.
nipple discharge, especially bloody, persistent skin dimpling, breast swelling, or redness
What other imaging tool is often used for women with dense breast tissue or at high risk?
Breast MRI or ultrasound
Name one emotional or physical challenge survivors may face after treatment.
fatigue, lymphedema, anxiety, depression, body image concerns
This road splits the Urbana and Champaign sides of campus, running past the Illini Union and Engineering Quad. What street is it?
Wright Street
Name one modifiable lifestyle factor that can increase breast cancer risk.
alcohol use, lack of physical activity, obesity
Why can breast pain alone be an unreliable warning sign for cancer, and what does this highlight about screening?
Breast pain is common and often not cancer-related; many breast cancers cause no pain at all, showing the importance of regular screening even without symptoms.
Explain the main difference between a screening mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram.
A screening mammogram is for routine checks with no symptoms; a diagnostic mammogram is a more detailed test used after an abnormal finding or symptoms
Some breast cancers grow in response to the hormones estrogen or progesterone.
What type of treatment is used to block these hormones and slow cancer growth?
Hormone (endocrine) therapy.
In UIUC tradition, seniors sometimes jump into this campus landmark’s chilly water to celebrate the end of finals week. What is it?
The Beckman Fountain (also known as the “Engineering Fountain” near Grainger)