Breast Cancer Awareness Month
By Yvette Rivera, BA
The month of October is identified as Breast Cancer Awareness month. Breast cancer, the most common cancer among American women, is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. The type of breast cancer varies depending on which cells in the breast turns into cancer. Each year, breast cancer affects nearly 255,000 women, with most breast cancers found in women who are 50 years or older. Though this is the most common, this disease also affects younger women as well as men with 1 out of 100 cases being a male subject.
Important Facts:
● 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
● In 2022, an estimated 287,500 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 51,400 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
● Although rare, men get breast cancer too. In 2022, an estimated 2,710 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S. and approximately 530 men will die from breast cancer.
Breast cancer can begin in various parts of the breast. The breast is made up of three different parts: lobules, ducts, and connective tissue. Most breast cancers will begin in the ducts or lobules. The cancer can in fact spread through blood and lymph vessels. If the cancer has spread outside of the breast to other parts of the body, it is said to have metastasized.
65% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage (there is no sign that the cancer has spread outside of the breast), for which the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. There are numerous symptoms of breast cancer, with some individuals experiencing no symptoms at all. Some of these symptoms include but are not limited to, any change in the size or the shape of the breast, pain in any area of the breast, abnormal nipple discharge, and/ or a novel lump in the breast or underarm. Keeping up with annual mammograms is the best way to catch and treat the disease before it can spread or cause symptoms. There are ways in which one can lower the risk of breast cancer such as maintaining a healthy weight by exercising regularly, limiting alcohol consumption, considering the risks associated with hormone replacement, and breastfeeding your children, if possible.
HOPE Hospice not only understands the ways Breast Cancer and other related diseases can impact the quality of life of a patient, but also the impact of caregiving on caregivers. Our skilled clinicians work together to establish a plan of care that is individualized to help support the needs of our patients and their families.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation made it easier for women to access the resources needed to schedule a mammogram screening. Interested in taking the Mammo Pledge or simply making a donation? Join hundreds or women today in taking the pledge to prioritize their health through annual screenings today by visiting
Citations
“Breast Cancer Awareness Feature.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Sept. 2021,
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/resources/features/breastcancerawareness/index.htm.
“Breast Cancer Facts & Stats.” National Breast Cancer Foundation, 22 Sept. 2022, https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-facts.
“What Is Breast Cancer?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22 Sept. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/what-is-breast-cancer.htm.
