The breast is the leading cancer site among American women and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths.

"Timing is critical when it comes to cancer -- the sooner it is detected the better the chance a women has to get successful treatment," said Sue Hilton, MD, FCAP, a pathologist at St. Paul Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. "Even though women know that early breast cancer detection may save their lives, many say they are 'too busy' or simply forget to schedule their annual mammograms."

Regular Mammograms Save Lives

Mammograms can help detect cancer before a woman can feel a lump in a self-examination, as well as detect cancers too small to feel during a clinical breast exam.

Dr. Hilton, a physician who specializes in treating patients through laboratory medicine, says all women should monitor their breast health on a regular basis. The College of American Pathologists recommends that all women 40 years and older should have annual mammograms, based on their physician's recommendation.

"Breast cancer can strike women at any age," Dr. Hilton said. "It is especially important to start regular screening early if you have a family history of breast cancer."

Other risk factors for breast cancer:

• Personal history of breast cancer: women with cancer in one breast have a higher chance of developing a new cancer (not just a recurrence of the earlier cancer) in another part of the same breast or in the other breast.

• Race: While Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer. Asian and Hispanic women have a lower risk of developing breast cancer.

• History of breast biopsy: Certain types of abnormal breast biopsy results can be linked to a slightly higher risk for breast cancer.

• History of radiation treatment: Women who had chest area radiation treatment as children or young women have a significantly increased risk for breast cancer.

In response to surprising data from a 2000 Gallup poll of 1,000 women, the College of American Pathologists created a free health test reminder Web site.

Health Test Reminder

According to this national poll, 36 percent of all adult women did not have a Pap test in the prior 12 months. Yet the poll results indicated that women who receive a reminder to schedule a Pap test are more likely to report getting a Pap test within the past 12 months than women who do not receive a reminder (78 percent vs. 47 percent, respectively). Among those surveyed who said that they did not receive a reminder, 62 percent felt that they would be more likely to make an appointment if reminded.

"It was surprising that a simple reminder had such a huge impact on the health of so many people," said Dr. Hilton. "It became obvious that something had to be done to help busy patients remember to schedule their potentially life-saving tests."

That "something" was a new reminder Web site. In less than one minute, a person can log onto MyHealthTestReminder.com, register and choose the health test reminder(s) he or she wants to receive -- mammogram, Pap test or colon cancer screening -- and when he or she would like to receive the reminder(s). The site will then automatically send a private e-mail reminder on the requested date.

Take One Minute to Beat Cancer

1) Visit MyHealthTestReminder.com.

2) Choose which screening reminder(s) -- Pap test, mammogram or colon cancer screening -- you would like to receive and when you would like to receive it.

3) Log off the computer and get back to your busy life.

4) As soon as you receive your e-mail reminder, call your doctor and schedule your cancer screening.