Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2023
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In the month of October, we wear the color pink to raise awareness and applaud people who are affected by breast cancer. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) is an annual health campaign that takes place from October 1 to October 31st. The BCAM was created to educate people and provide information on breast cancer prevention, early screening/testing, and to help those who may have been diagnosed. The need for people, communities, and businesses to join in this campaign has become more crucial due to Covid-19. The American Cancer Society states that more than 42 thousand women will die from Breast Cancer in 2020 alone, thus making it more important to spread awareness all year long.
Although breast cancer can affect both sexes, the occurrence in females is significantly higher, as one in eight women develop breast cancer over their lifetime. According to the Medical West Healthcare Center, when breast cancer is detected and treated early, the five-year survival rate is 98%! Thus, early detection and treatment are very important.
Here are some risk factors that are important to know:
Having a family history of breast cancer
Having dense breasts
Having a genetic mutation of the genes BRCA 1 and 2,
It’s also important to note that the risk of breast cancer increases with age.
Some of the symptoms of breast cancer include:
Changes in size or shape of the breasts
Spontaneous nipple discharge,
Change in skin color and/or texture.
Knowing you have breast cancer can be an extremely scary diagnosis. However, there are various options one can do for treatment and thus become one of the millions of survivors of breast cancer!
Treatments for breast cancer include local treatments and systemic treatments where local treatments only affect the tumor while systemic treatments can reach cancer cells everywhere in the body. The type of treatments one can receive is highly individualized and dependent on your health situation.
While going through treatment for breast cancer, being around a supportive circle can help one’s mental health greatly. Family and friends are most often a big source of a person’s happiness and being around them can help one go through this difficult process.
Although knowing this information is essential, it’s important not to self diagnose. Instead, we should take charge of our breast health by getting tested early and yearly, informing our doctors of any changes in our breasts.
Wear Pink!
