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October is Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease and the importance of early detection. is one of the most common forms of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the will develop breast cancer at some point in their life. The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that a is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes.

Five Reasons Why October Is the Pinkest Month

1. Breast cancer doesn't discriminate

Although breast cancer is more prevalent among American white women, African-American women tend to die from the disease more often.

2. Breast cancer can baffle scientists

Scientists don't really understand why the left breast seems to develop cancer more often than the right breast.

3. Breast cancer was a pioneer

The very first operation to use to deaden pain was a breast cancer surgery.

4. Men get it too

Overall, only one percent of American males are diagnosed with breast cancer, but African- American men just like women in their community, are more prone to die from the disease.

5. Breast cancer — the nuns' disease

At one time, breast cancer was called “the nuns’ disease" because it seemed to afflict more nuns than women in the general population. Why Month is Important

1. It promotes self-care

Breast Cancer Awareness Month reminds women (and men ) that monthly breast cancer exams should be a regular part of one's self care. Look for changes within and surrounding your breast including dimpling, redness, scaliness, or discharge. 2. It focuses on treatment

There are several different types of breast cancer. Treatment options depend on the stage and specific type of cancer, age and overall health at the time of diagnosis, and the patient's personal and family history.

3. It highlights the good news

The National Cancer Institute recently declared that the U.S. cancer rate fell for diagnosed women between 2006-2015. Also, the FDA approved an at-home kit for women to assess whether they carry any of the three gene mutations associated with breast cancer. Who gets breast cancer?

 Breast cancer and death rates generally increase with age. The decrease in incidence rates that occurs in women 80 years of age and older may reflect lower rates of , the detection of by before 80 years of age, and/or incomplete detection

 A woman living in the U.S. has a 12.4 percent (or a 1-in-8) lifetime risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Conversely, 7 out of 8 women born today will not be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes

 Breast cancer in men is rare, accounting for less than 1 percent of breast cancer cases in the U.S. However, since 1975, the incidence rate has increased slightly, from 1.0 case per 100,000 men during 1975-1979 to 1.3 cases per 100,000 men during 2010-2014. Men are more likely than women to be diagnosed with advanced-stage breast cancer, which likely reflects decreased awareness and delayed detection because screening mammography is not recommended for men due to the rarity of the disease.

Apart from skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer type in women . In fact, in 2019: Women: Men: 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer 2,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer 41,760 breast cancer deaths 500 breast cancer deaths

Breast Cancer

Finding breast cancer as early as possible gives you a better chance of successful treatment. Screening tests can help find breast cancer in its early stages, before any symptoms appear.

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. They can even be painful. For this reason, it is important to have any new , lump, or breast change checked by a health care professional experienced in diagnosing breast diseases.

Other Possible Symptoms of Breast Cancer Include:

 Swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt)

 Skin irritation or dimpling (sometimes looking like an orange peel)

 Breast or nipple pain

 Nipple retraction (turning inward)

 Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin

(other than )

Factors That Do Not Increase Breast Cancer Risk

. and . Underwire . Breast implants . Caffeine . Cell phones . Hair dyes . Sugar . Trauma to breast . Migraine headaches . Left-handedness

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - History

1932 Improvement in

A new procedure is found to be more effective and not as disfiguring.

1985 vs. mastectomy

Researchers discover that early-stage breast cancer patients had comparable survival rates whether treated with a lumpectomy and , or a mastectomy.

1998 —a breakthrough cancer drug

Tamoxifen cuts the breast cancer risk for some women by as much as half.

2006 Drug reduced risk for post-menopausal women

The drug, , minimizes the risk of developing breast cancer in women who have already passed through .

June 2018

Praise for

Immunotherapy completely regresses breast cancer in a patient who had a form of the disease resistant to other kinds of treatment.

How to Observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 Share a story: Do an online search of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and you'll discover various organizations that have links to social media blogs, video platforms, and more.

 Think : Pink is the color for October's campaign. Rummage through your closets and pull out anything pink — sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves - even wigs!

 Raise some money: October is the primary fundraising month for Breast Cancer Awareness. Hold a raffle or simply write a check. It all helps to fund life-saving cancer research.

 Join a local Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk: The American Cancer Society started Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walks to unite communities in the fight against this disease. Today, Making Strides is the largest network of breast cancer events in the nation. The organization raises money to help the American Cancer Society fund breast cancer research and provides patient services such free rides to chemo, free places to stay near treatment, and a live 24/7 cancer helpline.

Join the AMC Making Strides Team!

Albany Med is working to recruit the largest team ever to walk in the upcoming Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk. Sign up for TEAM ALBANY MED to help raise funds for research and to highlight the importance of breast cancer’s early detection. Making Strides will be held Sunday, Oct. 20 , in Washington Park, Albany, beginning with registration at 10 a.m. and the walk at noon. All registered walkers receive a free t-shirt!

Click the link to sign up for the walk: https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?fr_id=94426&pg=team&team_id=2442095

Additional Resources:

American Cancer Society’s 2017-2018 Breast Cancer Report: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/breast- cancer-facts-and-figures/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures-2017-2018.pdf

NY State Cancer Services Program: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/cancer/services/

Susan G. Komen: https://ww5.komen.org/

To Life! Support, Education, and Services in the Capital District: https://tolife.org/