OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

PRESS RELEASES   10/1/2021

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also known as NBCAM for short. The pink ribbon will be visible virtually everywhere to remind men and women to raise awareness about breast cancer. •1 in 4 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. •Over 200,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. this year. •Over 40,000 women will die from the disease. •Breast cancer occurs in men. In fact, over 1,000 men will be diagnosed this year. Although a lump is a common symptom of breast cancer, there are many breast cancer symptoms women aren't aware of like sudden change in breast size or a breast that is warm to the touch. All women should perform a monthly breast self exam to check for breast changes. The breast self exam takes about 10 minutes and is simple to do. Many young women have the misconception that they do not need to perform self exams because of their age. However, this is untrue. Although breast cancer may be rare in young women, it still occurs. Getting a regular mammogram is essential for breast health, along with the self breast exam. Mammograms are normally performed after the age of 40, but can be done if breast cancer is suspected or if there is a genetic predisposition for breast cancer. Although breast cancer can be hereditary, those with family members who have suffered from breast cancer are not the only ones at risk. Many women have never had anyone in their family diagnosed with breast cancer. While it is especially important for women with a genetic disposition for breast cancer to be regularly screened, it is just as important for women who don't. No one can pinpoint exactly why one woman may get breast cancer and another won't. There are several breast cancer risk factors that increase the chances that a woman may develop breast cancer. Common Risk Factors: •Sex •Age •Personal History •Family History •The Breast Cancer Genes Information provided by NBCAM.org