National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

No one wants to hear the dreaded words, “You’ve got cancer”.  It doesn’t matter what age or gender you are or what form of cancer it is.  Hearing that diagnosis is shocking and disconcerting.  In the USA, breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer diagnosed in women, exceeded only by skin cancer.  Approximately 200,000 women hear those dreaded words each year, and upwards of 40,000 will succumb to it (about one every 13 minutes).  The only cancer that is responsible for more deaths than breast cancer in women is lung cancer.

Although much more rare, men can be diagnosed with breast cancer, as well, though it only affects around 1,700 men each year.  Of that number, about 25% will die.

One of the best hedges available to prevent losing the battle against cancer is early detection.  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; and as with any other cancer, it’s important for women to be “aware” of the facts so they can make critical decisions regarding detection and treatment.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month was actually the brain child of Astra Zeneca, one of the manufacturers of cancer drugs, started in 1985.  The aim of the idea was to promote mammography for early detection.  A precursor to the creation of BCAM (and now a huge cog in the awareness-building wheel), was the first Race for the Cure held in 1983 with 800 participants.  It is well known that now that “Race” is run each year worldwide.

The Susan G. Komen Foundation, in its New York City race in 1991, honoring breast cancer survivors and the search for a cure, handed out pink ribbons to the race participants.  One large corporation that took up the gauntlet a couple years later (1993) was Estee Lauder Companies.  With Evelyn Lauder (Senior Corporate Vice President) at the helm, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation was created, utilizing the Pink Ribbon as its moniker.  In the past, in order to bring more attention to the cause, Estee Lauder has been behind such creative awareness tactics as having world-famous landmarks lighted up in pink.  Structures such as The Majestic Hotel in Cannes, France, The Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia, Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, and the White House in Washington, D.C. have been bathed in pink lights to build awareness.

An important piece in the awareness puzzle is being familiar with some signs or symptoms of breast cancer.  These include the following:

• A change in how the breast or nipple feels; nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area.
• A change in how the breast or nipple looks; a change in the size or shape of the breast or a nipple that is turned slightly inward.  The skin of the breast, areola or nipple may appear scaly, red or swollen or may have ridges or pitting that resembles the skin of an orange.
• Nipple discharge

To be proactive in the fight against breast cancer, women (and men) should be aware of the risk factors involved so they can either avoid them or work to minimize them.  Even having a positive and can-do attitude about side-stepping or fighting the disease can be a great benefit.  Here are some risk factors you should know:

• Age:  Women over 65 account for over half of all those diagnosed.
• Weight:   Those who are overweight or obese are at increased risk.
• Diet & Lifestyle:   Drinking more than two drinks per day, eating too much food that is high in saturated fats, and being a couch potato all can contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer.
• Menstrual & Reproductive History:   If a woman began her menstrual cycle at a young age or goes through menopause at an older age, if she has her first child when she’s older or never has children, or if she took birth control pills for over ten years under the age of 35, the risk of breast cancer is greater.
• Family & Personal History:   If a mother, sister (or other family member) has or had breast cancer or if a woman has, in the past, had benign breast disease (non-cancerous), the risk is higher.
• Medical & Other Factors:  If there is dense breast tissue, if someone has had radiation therapy in the chest or breast area in the past, has had hormone treatments (estrogen and progesterone) or has gene factors which change (such as BRCA1 or 2), this can create a higher risk.

There is a wealth of information at the website links included above.  Hopefully, you will take some time to review them and increase your awareness.