Think Pink: October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

 

You might be seeing a lot of pink this month – that’s because it’s the color that reminds us that October is designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month and always, it’s important to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer since it can touch all of us in different ways.

Did you know?
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. That’s one person every 2 minutes in the U.S.

  • In the U.S., less than 1% of all breast cancer cases occur in men.
  • The risk of breast cancer is much lower in men than in women. The lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 833 for men in the U.S.
The two most common risk factors of breast cancer are being born female and getting older.
In 2022, it’s estimated that nearly 44,000 people in the U.S. will die from breast cancer.

Your Approach
Spread the word about the importance of screenings.
Be proactive in your health and understand your risk.

  • Talk to your doctor about your family history and see how that impacts your risks.
  • Get screened – mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat and before it’s big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Use this interactive map to find a screening location near you.
Share the story of how you or a loved one was affected by breast cancer.
Make healthy lifestyle choices – maintain a healthy weight, limit alcohol intake, and exercise regularly.
Offer help to someone you know who is on their breast cancer journey, or who is a survivor.
Take part in fundraising efforts that support mammograms for those in need, and for research.

 

You can find more information about breast cancer and what you can do to raise awareness, help to minimize your risks, and how to help others in the community from the American Cancer Society, from Susan G. Komen, and from the CDC.