October National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. 

     Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.

       The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram – the screening test for breast cancer – can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat.

      National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Make a difference! Spread the word about mammograms and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.

• How can National Breast Cancer Awareness Month make a difference?

        We can use this opportunity to spread the word about steps women can take to detect breast cancer early.

Here are just a few ideas:

• Ask doctors and nurses to speak to women about the importance of getting screened for breast cancer.
• Encourage women ages 40 to 49 to talk with their doctors about when to start getting mammograms.
• Organize an event to talk with women ages 50 to 74 in your community about getting mammograms every 2 years.

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast.

Diagnosis

Breast cancer can be diagnosed through multiple tests, including a mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy.

Stages

Once a person is determined to have a malignant tumor or the diagnosis of breast cancer, the healthcare team will determine breast cancer staging to communicate how far the disease has progressed.

Types

Types of breast cancer include ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive ductal carcinoma, inflammatory breast cancer, and metastatic breast cancer.

Myths

There is a lot of misinformation out there. Make sure you know the facts about breast cancer