October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States after skin cancer. Throughout the month of October Legacy Medical Sales will give you 10% off your order with promo code Cancer10. In addition to this discount, we have provided our readers with up-to-date information below about this horrible disease.
How Prevalent is Breast Cancer?
- 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.
- 65% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage (there is no sign that cancer has spread outside of the breast), for which the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%.
- About 43,250 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2022 from breast cancer. The overall death rate from breast cancer decreased by 1% per year from 2013 to 2018. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances and earlier detection through screening.
Who Gets 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. Additionally, death rates have been steady in women under 50 since 2007, but have continued to drop in women over 50. About 9% of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women younger than 45 years of age. As for ethnicity, non-Hispanic white women have a 14% lifetime risk of getting breast cancer, compared to 11% for Hispanic women.
Anyone is at risk, even those in Hollywood. These are some of the celebrities who have been public about their breast cancer journey-Sheryl Crow, Christina Applegate, Hoda Kotb, and Angelina Jolie.
Detection:
Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month, Johns Hopkins Medical center states, “Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”
Not sure how to do your own self-exam? Watch this video for helpful instructions: Breast Self-Examination
What symptoms should you be on the lookout for?
There are different symptoms of breast cancer, and some people have no symptoms at all. Symptoms can include any change in the size or the shape of the breast, pain in any area of the breast, nipple discharge other than breast milk (including blood), and a new lump in the breast or underarm.
Prevention:
Cancer experts state the following are a few ways you could help prevent breast cancer:
- Exercise boosts the immune system and helps you to keep your weight in check. With as little as three hours of exercise per week, or about 30 minutes a day, a woman can begin to lower her risk of breast cancer.
- A nutritious, low-fat diet (30 grams or less) with plenty of fruits and green and orange vegetables can help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. A high-fat diet increases the risk because fat triggers estrogen production that can fuel tumor growth.
- Smoking is a confirmed risk factor for many types of cancer. Recent research in the last year (2012) has confirmed that smoking is a contributing risk factor for developing breast cancer.