October is breast cancer awareness month. Let’s talk early detection, risk, and survival.
Most of us know someone who has faced breast cancer. It’s a diagnosis that touches millions but there is real hope. Thanks to advances in early detection and treatment, survival rates have never been higher.
When detected early, before it spreads outside the breast, the five-year relative survival rate is 99%. That’s why regular screenings like mammograms and clinical breast exams are so important. The American Cancer Society recommends that women ages 45 to 54 get annual mammograms, and those over fifty-five continue screening annually or every two years based on health history and personal risk.
“Early detection isn’t just a medical recommendation, it’s a lifesaving decision,” says Lisa Mayer, a local breast cancer survivor.
“Catching it early saved my life and my sister’s. A routine mammogram found my breast cancer just in time, and not long after, my sister was diagnosed early, thanks to screening. We’re both here because we didn’t wait. Paying attention and getting checked made all the difference. It truly saved us,” Mayer said.
Many breast cancers found are slow growing, making timely screening even more critical. Don’t wait until symptoms appear. Breast cancer can be present long before it’s felt.
Important Facts to Know
- 1 in 8 U.S. women, about 13%, will develop invasive breast cancer
- In 2025, an estimated 316,950 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer
- 59,080 more cases will be diagnosed as non-invasive
- Every 2 minutes, a woman in the U.S. is diagnosed
- 66% of cases are caught early, when treatment is most effective
Men Get Breast Cancer Too
Breast cancer isn’t just a women’s disease. In fact, 2,800 men in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed in 2025, and 510 will die from it.
According to studies, while the lifetime risk for men is lower (about 1 in 726), male breast cancer is often diagnosed later, in part because men don’t realize they’re at risk. Watch for symptoms like a lump, swelling, or nipple discharge and don’t hesitate to speak to a doctor.
“Men have breast tissue too, and they can get breast cancer.” Men with a family history of breast cancer or the BRCA gene mutation should also consider genetic counseling.
This October, Take Action
- Schedule your annual mammogram
- Encourage friends and family to do the same
- Learn the warning signs regardless ofgender
- Support breast cancer research andawareness
Awareness is the fi rst step. Early action can save lives including your own.
