Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This hits home because I recently lost a cousin to breast cancer and I've lost several family members to cancer.  It is vitally important that we all take good care of ourselves, know the statistics, and get tested.  Every woman should have a mammogram conducted every year.  Make sure to talk to your gynecologist about your risk and your fears especially if your family has a history of cancer, whether breast cancer or any other form of cancer.

Know the Statistics:

• About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• From 1999 to 2005 breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. decreased about 2% per year in women aged 50 or over. 
• For women in the U.S. breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer besides lung cancer.
• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women besides skin cancer.  
• Just under 30% of cancers in women are breast cancers.
• Caucasian women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African American women.  But in women under the age of 45 breast cancer is more common in African American women than Caucasian women.
• In 2011, there were more than 2.6 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S.
• A woman's risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
• About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.

Established Risks:

Being a woman, age, family history, genetics, personal history of breast cancer, radiation to chest or face before age 30, certain breast changes, race/ethnicity, being overweight, pregnancy history, menstrual history, using hormone placement therapy, drinking alcohol, having dense breasts, lack of exercise, smoking.

 If you feel that you are at risk of breast cancer contact your doctor.  It's better to be overcautious and seek medical advise that to keep your fear balled up to yourself.  The best protection is early detection.

Throughout the month of October several organizations are collecting donations to go toward research to find a cancer.  Some of the organizations includes Susan G. Komen for the cure, American Cancer Society, and several corporate chains like Kroger.  The National Football League also auctions off different pink items that the players wear during their games throughout the month of October.

Show your support by wearing pink throughout the month of October.

Statistics and risks via breastcancer.org