October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness and spread information on the impact this type of cancer has on individuals and families.
Read on for more general info on breast cancer and how you can get involved this month to help support cancer research and spread awareness.
Unfortunately, the exact cause of breast cancer is still unknown, but we do know that this cancer is always caused by damage to your cell’s DNA. In general, cancer is a result of mutations or changes in genes responsible for regulating healthy cell growth. Uncontrolled cell growth may lead to benign or malignant tumors in breast tissue. 5-10% of cancers are due to abnormalities inherited from your parents. However, 85-90% of breast cancers are due to genetic abnormalities that happen as we age.
Some women have certain risk factors making it more likely for them to develop breast cancer. Some risk factors such as excessive drinking are preventable however others such as family history and genetics may be unavoidable. Many women live with risk factors and never develop breast cancer but it’s good to be aware so that you can prioritize your health and possibly detect any cancer early. Another preventative way to stay on top of breast health is to perform a breast self-exam on your own. This is done to see if there are any changes to the look and/or feel of your breasts or if you can feel any new lumps. Always, if you notice any changes it’s a good idea to discuss it with your doctor.
The statistics on breast cancer can be alarming and breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the US.
About 1 in 8 US women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
In 2022 an estimated 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the US and 2,710 new cases in men.
It’s important to spread awareness that this disease can affect any gender. There is positive news, however, the overall death rate from breast cancer has decreased by 1 % per year from 2013 to 2018. This decrease is largely attributed to advances in treatment and earlier detection from screening.
As of January 2022, more than 3.8 million women have a history of breast cancer in the US alone. It’s important to learn your family’s history of cancer so that you are aware of your personal risk. Supporting research for every type of cancer helps the fight against childhood cancer. The more we learn, the more we can prevent and detect cancer earlier on. So, from all of us at Jacie’s Kids, stay informed and spread awareness about breast cancer this October.
Follow Jacie’s Kids on Facebook for information on local Breast Cancer Awareness Events coming up on Long Island. And remember, donating any amount goes a long way in helping fund cancer research. Please share this blog and if you feel like giving, we’d love to speak to you about how you can invest some time, talents or a donation to help our organization at JaciesKids.org.
When you do, it means the world to “our” kids and their families! Thank you all!
For more information about Jacie’s Kids, or to speak to our team about opportunities within the organization, contact us at info@jacieskids.org or call Beatrice Haas at 516-242-1564.
For more information about Jacie’s Kids, or to speak to our team about opportunities within the organization, contact us at info@jacieskids.org or call Beatrice Haas at 516-242-1564.
댓글