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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign dedicated to increasing awareness of the disease, helping those affected through early detection, education and support, and fundraising for breast cancer research. Breast Cancer Awareness Month was founded in 1985 by the American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries in an effort to advocate mammography as the most effective course of action when fighting breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Stats
- About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.
- In 2019, an estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 62,930 new cases of non-invasive.
- The lifetime risk for U.S. men is about 1 in 1,000, and 2,670 new cases are expected to be diagnosed in men this year.
- On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.
- There are over 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
- For women in the U.S. breast cancer death rates are higher than those of other cancers.
- Female breast cancer represents 15.2 percent of all new cancer cases in the U.S.
Early detection is crucial to treating breast cancer, and screening tests such as mammograms and breast MRIs are the leading recommended detection methods. Speaking to your doctor about these tests is important, as well as understanding your individual risk factors and the role of genetics in breast cancer.
The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. has many opportunities to get involved and help educate your loved ones about the disease:
- You can download their free symptom guide
- Share a story of how you or a loved one has been affected by breast cancer
- Donate to help provide mammograms for women in need
- Start or join a fundraiser or
- Partner with a nationally-recognized charity
Learn more about how you can get involved and raise hope for those dealing with breast cancer by visiting the National Breast Cancer Foundation website.