Most of us know someone who has been diagnosed with cancer, sadly most of know multiple people who have battled this terrible disease. You may even be a survivor, and if so – hurrah! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – a time to celebrate survivors, become educated, share our stories and band together to raise awareness and donations to fight breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death for women in the United States, although a breast cancer diagnosis is not limited to only women. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer for women, not just in America, but all over the world. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and one woman will die from breast cancer every 13 minutes. Those numbers are staggering and difficult to comprehend. But the good news is there are over 33 million breast cancer survivors alive in the United States today! Since 1990, death from breast cancer has been on a decline – this is due in part to the tireless efforts of multiple foundations, organizations and individuals who have made it their mission to educate women and shape public policy to affect change. An increased awareness among women and more efforts to detect cancer early have made a tremendous difference. Our understanding of how cancer affects the body and ways we can fight it has also marched forward, bringing better treatment options and better prognosis for survival.
Scientists know that cancer grows when a cell’s DNA is damaged. How that damage occurs is still an unknown factor. Researchers believe it could be environmental or genetic, or perhaps a combination of both. There are some risk factors that cannot be changed, and preventing cancer entirely is an impossibility. However, there are ways to be proactive by living a healthy lifestyle.
Genetic risk factors you cannot change include your race, gender and age. Caucasian women over age 55 are the most highly diagnosed population, although the diagnosis can come at a younger age. If you have a mother, father, sister or child who had breast or ovarian cancer, you are at a higher risk, especially if their diagnosis came before age 50. Certain genome changes are also genetic factors you cannot alter – mutations in certain genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are now known to researchers as a potential risk factor.
Since you cannot change your genetic makeup or control what happens to other members of your family, you can have some control over your environmental and lifestyle risk factors. As with all healthy lifestyles, physical activity and a balanced diet are the easiest things to control. Leave behind the sedentary lifestyle, and swap out the ice cream for a bowl of fruit. These positive lifestyle habits will help reduce another breast cancer risk factor: being overweight or obese. If you can avoid chest radiation (especially before the age of 30) and hormone replacement therapy (often prescribed for menopause), you will also reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Even with these known risk factors, only 30-40% of breast cancer patients exhibit any of these risk factors, while an overwhelming 60-70% of patients have no connection to these risk factors. That is why continued research and education are vital to understanding how this cancer works and developing more treatment plans to fight it.
Women and men alike must educate themselves on the resources available to them in their community in regard to cancer screenings and other preventative measures they can and should be taking. The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) is giving away a free “Breast Health Guide” during the month of October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Visit their website by clicking here to request your copy. This helpful guide will provide information on types and stages of breast cancer as well as how to adopt healthy habits and recognize the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
