Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 7 Things to Know

The first Breast Cancer Awareness Month was declared in October in 1985, when organizers created a new movement to raise awareness and funding for a cure.

Maybe you’ll Race for the Cure this month, or wear a pink ribbon in support breast cancer survivors. Maybe you’re worried about getting breast cancer, or concerned for someone you know.

Almost 40 years after the first-ever Breast Cancer Awareness Month, there’s good news to report: Breast cancer death rates have been falling steadily since 1975, thanks to improvements in treatments and breast cancer screenings. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%.

But breast cancer is still a major health threat. According to the American Cancer Society:

• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women.
• 1 in 8 women, or approximately 13% of the female population in the U.S., will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
• In 2024, an estimated 310,720 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

What else should we know about breast cancer?

You may be able to reduce your risk.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation suggests that you and your healthcare provider discuss an individual breast cancer risk assessment. Additionally, you can take steps for breast (and overall) health: maintain a healthy weight through a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and limit alcohol. And, studies show that women who breastfeed have a lower risk of breast cancer than women who don’t breastfeed. You can’t control cancer, but you can control your risk factors.

Screening is important.

Early detection is key. Having regular mammograms is both the best way to detect breast cancer and lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. The U.S. Preventive Task Force recommends that women who are 40 to 74 years old and are at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every 2 years. Your risk factors may vary, so talk to your healthcare provider about appropriate screening for you.

Young women are at risk.

Most people are over the age of 50 when they are diagnosed, but recent data shows that about 10 percent of new female breast cancer diagnoses were early-onset, or among women under the age of 45.

Men can get breast cancer, too.

About 1 out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is found in a man. Most breast cancers are found after age 50. See your healthcare provider if you’re a man who experiences symptoms like a lump or swelling in the breast, redness or flaky skin in the breast, nipple discharge, or pulling in or pain in the nipple.

There isn’t always a lump.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation say’s it’s a myth that breast cancer always presents as a lump. There are many other signs that might indicate an issue: breast swelling, skin dimpling, nipple discharge, a red rash, and more. Many women are diagnosed with breast cancer during routine breast cancer screening—well before they might feel a lump or see another change in their breasts. But if you
notice a lump or any other change to how your breasts look or feel, don’t wait for your next scheduled mammogram. Make an appointment with your doctor so they can assess you and, if necessary, order additional screening.

Black and Hispanic women and Latinas face a higher risk.

For many complex reasons, black women today are diagnosed at nearly the same rates as white women, but black women ultimately die more, are diagnosed younger, at later stages and with more aggressive types of breast cancer. Hispanic women and Latinas are more likely to be diagnosed at younger ages, with more aggressive disease, and at more advanced stages.

Family history is a factor—but not the whole story.

It’s true that research has linked certain gene mutations to an increased risk of breast cancer and that having first- or second-degree relatives with breast cancer can also elevate a person’s risk, according to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. But most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no known inherited gene mutations or a significant family history. Only about 10 to 15 percent of breast cancers are caused by inherited mutations in genes like BRCA1, BRCA2, and PALB2.

This October, celebrate the strides being made in breast cancer research and treatment, but more importantly, take time to understand your personal risk and adopt a regular screening schedule.