Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Key Facts & Insights

Awareness of your surroundings, your body, your thoughts, and your work is the first step to becoming better in your life. Let's take a hypothetical scenario; you are riding a bike or a car, and if there’s a pothole ahead and you are aware of it, you can steer around it and stay safe. But if you are unaware of it, it could cost you a fortune.

The same goes for your health conditions, especially regarding breast health. As you know, breast cancer is the most common cancer globally, and unfortunately, India has one of the highest rates of breast cancer deaths. So, what is the solution? It's breast cancer awareness.

Awareness is the key to early detection and prevention. This is why nations worldwide celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October. It’s an international campaign focused on guiding women, encouraging screenings, and reducing risk. Every year, it reminds people that knowing your body, recognizing changes, and taking timely action can make all the difference. Educate yourself, share, and become part of the fight against breast cancer because awareness saves one life at a time.

October Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is celebrated every year to help individuals learn about breast cancer. The color pink is a symbol of this month because it represents hope, femininity, and solidarity.

What is the aim of Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month has the following aim:

To encourage early checkups and support those affected.
To educate you regarding the breast cancer risk factors.
It reminds you to look out for signs.
It spread knowledge about breast cancer prevention,
It raises money for breast cancer research
It fosters multisectoral partnerships by engaging stakeholders
To promote equitable access to quality care

Many groups across the world join together in October to share tips, offer help. They make sure that everyone knows the importance of catching breast cancer early.

Breast Cancer Awareness Week Highlights The Global Challenge

Below are the points that will help you understand the breast cancer challenge that the nations worldwide are facing

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women globally.
In 2022, around 2.3 million women were diagnosed, and another 670,000 died from the disease.
1 in 8 women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
About 1 in 726 men will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
There is a treatment disparity. 5-year survival rates in high-income nations exceed 90%; unfortunately, the percentage drops to 66% in India and 40% in South Africa.
Unequal access to early detection, timely diagnosis, and proper treatment is reducing the chances of survival.
If adequate action is not taken, the incidence and mortality are projected to rise by 40% by 2050.

Key Facts Every Woman and Man Should Know About Breast Cancer

Here are 7 key facts about breast cancer that every individual should know:

1. History of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It began in 1985 as a week-long awareness campaign, a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical company Imperial Chemical Industries (a British company that developed tamoxifen) to raise awareness for early detection of breast cancer.

2. Why Pink Colour Chosen the Symbol

The pink ribbon became its symbol in the early 1990s, popularized by Estée Lauder and SELF magazine to raise awareness and support for breast cancer research. Pink represent the cause, raising awareness and bringing together women in solidarity.

3. Causes of Breast Cancer

The exact cause is unknown, but some of the possible reasons are:

Changes (mutations) in the DNA of breast cells
Age
Alcohol consumption
Lack of physical activity
Reproductive and menstrual history
Hormone exposure
Radiation exposure
A strong family history

4. Breast Cancer Statistics

1 in 8 women, or around 13% of the female population in the U.S., will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
In India, about 200,000 new cases of breast cancer were reported in 2020
On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the U.S.
The 5-year overall survival rate are 95% for stage I, 92% for stage II, 70% for stage III, and only 21% for stage IV patients.
Hispanic women have a 20% lower incidence rate of breast cancer as compared to other groups.
Around 510 U.S. men will die from breast cancer in 2025.

5. Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

The following are the conditions that increase the chances of having breast cancer:

Getting older (>50)
Mutations of certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2
Having dense breasts
Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
Exposure to radiation therapy
Exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES)
Being overweight
Drinking alcohol
Inadequate physical activity

6. What is 60–60–80 Targets

The Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI’s) has the 60–60–80 strategic approach:

Health promotion and early detection: Target: 60% of invasive breast cancers are diagnosed at stage I or II.
Timely diagnosis: Target: Patients receiving a diagnosis within 60 days of initial presentation.
Comprehensive treatment: Target: 80% of patients complete their recommended treatment.

7. Men also Get Breast Cancer (it's Rare)

Breast cancer is no more a “woman’s disease.” While breast cancer overwhelmingly affects women, men also have breast tissue. Therefore, they are also at risk of developing breast cancer.

This October Breast Cancer Awareness Month | This is How to Get Involved

Get yourself involved this October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and let's fight together:

Advocate for government or state policies that improve quality access to breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
You can wear pink to show your support.
Join or organize awareness campaigns, charity walks, or runs.
Share educational posts.
Share survivor stories on social media.
Support the cause by donating to breast cancer research.
Schedule your and your loved ones' breast screenings and checkups.