October Is Celebrated As Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October Is Celebrated As Breast Cancer Awareness Month

H&B Uses This Opportunity To Remind You On The Importance Of Early Screening

In October, the world marks a Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer research is one of the best-funded cancer research, but this doesn’t mean the battle is done, and we can’t do more. In this blog, we’ll see how we can help the cause.

October is marked as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of this awful disease. The Breast Cancer Awareness Month, held in many countries across the globe every October, helps us by increasing attention for early detection and treatment. Also, we at H&B want to draw more attention to palliative care of this disease.

Every October, people all over the world show their care for people whose lives were touched by breast cancer. Raising awareness is always important, but October is when we get to really shout about it.

For almost a year by now, the coronavirus has put many areas of breast cancer research on temporary hold. Now more than ever, the scientific community needs people, communities, and businesses across the country to help promote breast cancer research and care.

We at H&B, with the lead of our founder, Dr. Shyamali Singhal, surgical oncologist, are dedicated to continuing our attempts in raising awareness for various types of cancer. We would like everybody to take the time this month to celebrate survivors and their loved ones and do what they can to raise awareness around the importance of early detection and screening in their community.

Breast Cancer Is The Most Common Type Of Cancer Among Women

Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the most frequent type of cancer among American women and women of the world in general. Mammograms are still the best-known way to catch breast cancer in its early stages, when it is easier to treat it,  and before it grows large enough to cause serious symptoms.

This year has been a convincing warning that we are all in this world together, and to remind us that our choices and actions have the power to influence the most vulnerable among us in many different ways. This is also true when we talk about breast cancer.

There are about 1.38 million new cases of breast cancer and 458 000 deaths from it every year. This puts breast cancer at the top of the list, as it is by far the most common cancer in women worldwide. In low- and middle-income countries the incidence of breast cancer has been rising up in the last years due to an increase in life expectancy, increased urbanization, and the adoption of a sedentary lifestyle.

Less Known Facts About Breast Cancer

Here are some interesting and important facts about breast cancer: 

• Most breast cancers occur in women over 50 years or older, but this doesn’t mean that breast cancer can’t affect younger women as well.

• Men can also develop breast cancer, even if it is not as common. One out of every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is in a man.

• One in eight women will be affected by breast cancer in their life.

• In the US, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women

• After lung cancer, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-caused death

• Every single year in the United States more than 250,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and as much as 42,000 women will die from this disease.

• Early cancer detection is by far the most efficient way of surviving cancer. When cancer is caught early enough, chances of survival exceed  90 percent.

How Can You Help?

Here are some ways we can help women in need this month:

• Show support.
  Spread the word about Breast Cancer Awareness Month on your Social Media. Maybe host a virtual fundraiser or Facebook fundraiser?

• Help to fund early screening and cancer treatment research.
  Make a donation to cancer research and early detection centers, groups, and organizations.

• Share your stories.
  Share the story of how you or your loved ones have been affected by breast cancer.
  Proudly wear a pink ribbon during October or even all year-round.

H&B Calls To Action- Get Yourself Checked

Currently, there is not enough knowledge on what exactly causes breast cancer, so early detection of the disease continues to be the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is caught early, and if satisfactory diagnosis and treatment are accessible, there is a chance that breast cancer can be fully cured. But, if cancer is detected in later stages, curative treatment is often no longer a viable option. In those cases, palliative care is the only remaining option.

WHO supports large breast cancer control programs as part of national cancer control plans. The promoted early detection approaches for low- and middle-income countries are awareness of early signs and symptoms and screening by clinical breast examination. Mammography screening is very expensive and is available only in countries with good health infrastructure that can provide a long-term program.

If you are at a higher risk of getting breast cancer, your doctor may talk about ways you can manage and reduce the risk. You may also be at higher risk of getting other types of cancers such as ovarian cancer. This is something you should talk about with your doctor.