Overview
Breast cancer awareness is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer, to help women learn how to detect the disease in its early stages, and to encourage women to seek medical advice if they notice any unusual lumps or changes in their breasts
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. In 2018, there were around 1.7 million new cases of breast cancer diagnosed and nearly half a million deaths from the disease. In 2017 alone, an estimated 458,000 people died from breast cancer. In the United States alone, approximately 40% of all women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime—approximately 252,710 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in 2019.
The most prominent campaigns have been funded by the retail sector, but many other organizations also raise money for research into the causes and possible cures for breast cancer. The most visible campaign is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which occurs every October in the United States.
Breast cancer awareness efforts include:
- Informational campaigns about how to detect breast cancer early through self-exams and mammography.
- Informational campaigns about how to prevent breast cancer by maintaining a healthy weight and diet and getting regular physical activity.
- Support groups for people with breast cancer or those who are at risk for it.
Breast cancer symptoms
Breast cancer often has no signs or symptoms in its early stages. Early detection is important to improve treatment options, so it’s important to know how to check your breasts for changes. The American Cancer Society recommends that women receive an annual mammogram beginning at age 40, but it’s never too early to start being aware of breast health and checking for changes.
If you notice any unusual changes in your breasts or feel lumps, see a doctor immediately.
The following are signs and symptoms of breast cancer:
- A new lump or thickening in one or both breasts (lumps can be soft or firm)
- A change in size or shape of a breast (the nipple can become flat or inverted)
- Skin dimpling on the breast (pitting)
- Cracking skin over a joint
Breast Cancer Prevention
There are several things you can do to help prevent breast cancer:
Get regular mammograms and clinical breast exams from your doctor every year. These tests can detect changes in the size or shape of your breasts that might be an early sign of disease.
Avoid exposure to radiation or chemicals known to cause cancer, such as asbestos and benzene. Don’t smoke tobacco products. Smoking causes about one out of three breast cancers among women who don’t have mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes that increase their risk for the disease.
If you have dense breasts, make sure your doctor knows about it during a mammogram because they’re harder to see on an X-ray film than fatty tissue is.
Be physically active. Being physically active can help reduce your risk of developing breast cancer by 30%. Regular exercise can also improve your quality of life and help you maintain a healthy weight.
Maintain a healthy weight throughout life by eating a healthy diet and getting regular physical activity. A healthy diet means eating foods low in fat and calories while including plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans every day in your diet.
Limit consumption of alcohol. Alcohol consumption has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women who have never used hormone therapy (HT). Moderate alcohol intake may be beneficial for heart health; however, it’s unclear whether moderate alcohol use lowers risk of dying from heart disease or stroke among women who have never used HT.