Fifty years ago, the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer was one in 20. Today that number is one in eight.

Experts say the reason is increased awareness. October is breast cancer awareness month, and statistics say more women than ever are getting their yearly mammogram and conducting breast self-exams. This means women who have breast cancer are able to catch the disease in an early stage when it can be cured.

According to Susan Kraenzle, RN, manager of the breast health center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, a culture shift plays a big role in why more women are being diagnosed.

"In the past it has been taboo to talk about ''private parts of the body,''" says Kraenzle. "But we''re really starting to see a decline in the deaths from breast cancer and that is because we''re finding breast cancers when they''re small and when we can cure it."

The best way to find breast cancer early is to get an annual screening mammogram after age 40. However, Kraenzle says breast self-exam is also an effective way to detect breast cancer early.

"It allows women to become familiar with the way her breast tissue feels," says Kraenzle. " It''s important it be done regularly so that you can feel subtle changes in the way your breast tissue feels and report those changes to your health care provider."

Kraenzle says it''s important to properly learn breast self-exam from a health care provider, but there are other options such as the Komen Foundation or the American Cancer Society.

"They can direct you to people who will teach you how to do a breast self-exam, because it''s important to know," says Kraenzle. "There''s lots of different ways people are shown to do self-exam and it''s important to use the same method all the time and be taught."

Although it''s rare, women in their twenties can be diagnosed with breast cancer, so Kraenzle recommends women begin self-exams when they turn 18.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital offers a free breast health kit through its Siteman Cancer Center. For more information call 800-600-3606.