October is the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of the early detection of breast cancer through a nationwide campaign.
Pink is worn and displayed as a visual reminder to breast cancer survivors and their families that their community supports them. It is a reminder for women and families that early diagnosis saves lives, a reminder to get their annual physical and mammogram so breast cancer can be caught and fought at its earliest stages.
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About 1 in 8 (12%) women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.
- According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
- If detected early, the survival rate for breast cancer is up to 96%
- Annual mammograms are recommended for women after the age of 40
- A Mammogram is the most accurate test for breast cancer detection. It can detect 90-95% of breast cancers, even before they can be felt
- Clinical breast exams should be part of a periodic health exam – about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over.
- Screening MRI is recommended for women with an approximately 2—25% or greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, including women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer, have been diagnosed with breast cancer, positive blood tests showing the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation gene and women who were treated for Hodgkin’s disease.
Early detection saves lives, and the best way to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage is by having an annual mammogram.
Learn more at at NationalBreastCancer.org
