Our country has observed October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month for almost forty years. It is a time annually devoted to educating everyone about breast cancer, including metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and the importance of early detection and access to timely, high-quality care.
No matter who you are or where you live, breast cancer may touch your life. It is necessary to understand the warning signs of breast cancer, your risk of breast cancer and what is normal for you so you can take action if there are any changes in your breasts or underarm areas.
Since 1989, Susan G. Komen has helped drive down mortality rates from breast cancer thanks to our focus on early detection and improvements in treatment. However, that progress may be in jeopardy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial number of people delayed their regular breast cancer screening. The pandemic disrupted treatment and research progress.
And more progress is still needed! Research has advanced breast cancer therapies, resulting in better outcomes for many. It is research that brings hope to people facing this disease, especially those living with MBC. We need to ensure more treatment options are available for all people facing breast cancer, especially when treatments stop working.
The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted the inequities in breast cancer treatments for under-resourced communities across the country, as well as the inequity in treatment between Black and white women. Black women in the U.S. are about 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.
That is why Susan G. Komen encourages you to dedicate this October as a time of action — both for yourself and others.
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That is one person every 2 minutes in the US.
The two most common risk factors of breast cancer are being born female and getting older.
In 2022, it is estimated that nearly 44,000 people in the US will die from breast cancer.
Know Your Risk
Knowing your family history is lifesaving. Talk to a doctor about your family history and see how that history impacts your risk of breast cancer. You and your doctor can create a personalized plan to monitor for signs of the disease.
Get Screened
For those at average risk, have a mammogram every year starting at age 40. If you have any signs of breast cancer, finding it early and treating it early may save your life.
Know Your Normal
Understanding your own baseline is essential, as it enables you to consult your health care provider promptly if you notice any changes or abnormalities.
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Living a healthy lifestyle is within your control and may lower your risk of breast cancer. Maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol intake, and exercise regularly. It all matters when it comes to your overall health and risk of disease.
Need Help?
The Komen Breast Care Helpline is a free resource available for every person, including survivors, caregivers, those living with metastatic breast cancer and people who have not yet been touched by breast cancer but have questions about how to better care for themselves. The Helpline specialists and oncology social workers provide emotional support and guidance to resources and Komen’s other Patient Care Center services, such as financial assistance, access to screening and diagnostic services, and patient navigation.
