Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers found in women in America. The month of October highlights the issue of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women in America. Awareness and prevention is encouraged for early detection and may increase the survival rates if detected early enough. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month originally started 1985 only as a week-long thing, later extending to a month in 1992. 38 years later it has morphed into what it is today, encouraging knowledge and awareness of breast cancer. 

Contrary to what typically talked about when discussing breast cancer, it is not only women who can have it. Men, though have a lower rate of getting it, still are at risk of getting it. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation: “The lifetime risk of a U.S. man developing breast cancer is about 1 in 833.” They also stated that: “297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.”

Through the years the death rates have slowly decreased 43% since 1989 according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. They also stated that: “About 9% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in women younger than 45 years old.” The chances are increased of having breast cancer if a mother, sister, father, or child have been diagnosed. 

There are many different types of breast cancer that you can have. Here’s a list of some of them; Ductal Carcinoma In Situ (DCIS), Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS), Invasive Lobular Cancer (ILC), Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC), Metastatic Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer During Pregnancy, and other types. 

It is typically unknown how someone gets breast cancer. An ongoing question that is still not always known. There are risk factors that may increase the chances of getting breast cancer. The causes can be genetic or environmental and lifestyle factors, or in most cases, a combination of the two.

Early detection matters. Doing monthly breast exams on your own along with staying on top of yearly gynecology appointments, and when the time comes, mammograms. These are ways to prevent late detection and potentially increase survival rates. Mammograms are encouraged for those over the age of 45. Learning how to give yourself a breast exam can help recognize any concerning areas. 

According to the American Cancer Society, “The reason why none of the major guidelines recommend routine screening in this younger age group is because the evidence so far shows that the risk of harms such as false positive, additional procedures, and potential overdiagnosis outweighs the potential benefits.”

Through genetic counseling, there are also ways in which a person can be better prepared for their future. If a family member is diagnosed with breast cancer and/or someone appears to have been positive for a gene mutation which increases your chances of getting breast cancer, there are ways in which you can make a plan that may help prevent future breast cancer.