OCTOBER BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

A Brief History of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

That little pink ribbon. We have all seen it every year in October, and most people are aware that it is associated with
Breast Cancer Awareness Month. However, not as many are aware of its roots and its goals.

Who Started it?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the
pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries. Betty Ford helped kick off the week-long event, as she was
herself a survivor of breast cancer. She was diagnosed when her husband, Gerald Ford, was president of the United
States and brought even more attention to breast cancer.

What is the Goal?

The early goal of Breast Cancer Awareness Month was to educate women about breast cancer and early detection
tests so that they could take charge of their breast health. One of their key goals that they wanted to achieve was to
promote mammograms as an important tool to be used in the fight against breast cancer.

During the month of October, breast cancer survivors and those with breast cancer are celebrated and encouraged to
share their stories. The month is also dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research and other related causes.

The Pink Ribbon

The first nation-wide campaign that utilized the pink ribbon was back in 1992 by Estée Lauder cosmetics. They
handed out an impressive 1.5 million of them and ushered in the pink ribbon as the premier visual reminder of
Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The NFL has become one of the largest supporters of breast cancer awareness
month and nearly all players, coaches, and referees don the pink ribbon each October to show their support.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance for all Americans to take time and acknowledge those men and women
whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.

WHAT IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH?

Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world every October, helps to increase attention
and support for the awareness, early detection, and treatment as well as palliative care of this disease. 

2021 - 255,000 new cases of invasive and non-invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, and approximately 42,000
of women will die from breast cancer in the U.S. Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women
worldwide, both in developed and developing countries.

Currently there is not sufficient knowledge on the causes of breast cancer; therefore, early detection of the disease
remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is detected early, and if adequate diagnosis and
treatment are available, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured. If detected late, however, curative
treatment is often no longer an option.  

The good news is that most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. According to the 2019
National Health Center Data, over 800,000 patients received a mammogram. A mammogram is a screening test for
breast cancer that can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat. National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. Make a difference!
Spread the word about mammograms and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get
involved. How can National Breast Cancer Awareness Month make a difference? We can use this opportunity to
spread the word about steps women can take to detect breast cancer early. Here are just a few ideas: 
 Ask doctors and nurses to speak to women about the importance of getting screened for breast cancer. 
 Encourage women ages 40 to 49 to talk with their doctors about when to start getting mammograms. 
  Organize an event to talk with women ages 50 to 74 in your community about getting mammograms
every 2 years. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2021

It is the second most common form of cancer in American women. Here we offer an overview of the different
forms, modes of detection and therapies.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most
common form of cancer in American women after skin cancers. In fact, a woman in the U.S. has a 12% risk (a 1-in-
8 chance) of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. Furthermore, there is a 1-in-38 chance that one will die from
breast cancer. Thus, raising awareness is incredibly important. Regular screenings help in the detection of
precancerous and cancerous breast tissue that may be present in otherwise healthy individuals. With proper
diagnoses and treatment in the initial stages, breast cancer can be one of the most treatable forms of cancer.

The primary types of breast cancer

Ductal carcinoma: It is the most common type of breast cancer and begins in the lining of the milk ducts (thin tubes
that carry milk from the lobules of the breast to the nipple). Ductal carcinoma may be either ductal carcinoma in situ
(DCIS, noninvasive condition) or invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC).

 Lobular carcinoma: This cancer begins in the lobules (milk glands) of the breast and may be either lobular
carcinoma in situ (LCIS, noninvasive) or invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). LCIS rarely becomes invasive
but having it in one breast increases the risk of developing invasive cancer in either breast.
 Inflammatory breast cancer: A type of breast cancer in which the breast looks red and swollen and feel
warm. The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin.
 Triple-negative breast cancer: This describes breast cancer cells that do not have estrogen receptors,
progesterone receptors or large numbers of HER2/neu protein. It is also called ER-negative PR-negative
HER2/neu-negative breast cancer.
 Recurrent breast cancer: Breast cancer can recur when treatment doesn’t fully remove or destroy all the
cancer cells.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer

 The most common signs of breast cancer include:

 Lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
 Swelling or thickening of all or part of the breast
 Dimpling or irritation of breast skin
 Localized, persistent breast pain
 Redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
 Nipple retraction or discharge (other than breast milk)
 Any change in the size or shape of the breast

It is important to remember that breast lumps are common, particularly in premenopausal women. There are many
kinds of lumps, most of which are not cancerous tumors. The majority of lumps turn out to be benign, such as the
soft, fluid-filled lumps that feel tender (especially before the period), the rubbery lumps that move around under the
skin and are usually painless, or the fibrocystic changes leading to painful, lumpy breasts. Benign lumps develop
from fatty tissue deposits or breastfeeding when sacs filled with milk form cysts. One can even get a lump because
of an injury, such as when your breast gets bruised or after breast surgery. Every woman should learn about these
signs and do monthly breast self-exams along with regular mammograms, which, along with knowledge of risk
factors of breast cancer, can help women keep this disease at bay.

What is my risk for breast cancer?

Being a woman is the main risk factor for breast cancer, as the disease is most found in women in ages 55 and older.
Multiple uncontrollable factors — such as race and ethnicity, personal/family history, breast density and menstrual
period history — increase the risk of breast cancer occurrence. In addition, having changes in certain breast cancer
genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) increases the risk of developing breast cancer.

Another category is the lifestyle-related risk factors, such as the use of birth control pills, hormone therapy after
menopause, childbirth, alcohol consumption, extra weight and sedentariness.

It is important to keep in mind that having one or several risk factors does not mean a woman will develop breast
cancer. Although is it important to be familiar with all of the risk factors and especially for those that can be
controlled by lifestyle to lower the risk of breast cancer. Physical activity of at least 150 minutes at moderate
intensity or 75 minutes at vigorous intensity activity (or a combination of these) is recommended. Further, the ACS
advises that women have no more than one alcoholic drink per day to reduce breast cancer risk. Regular breast
cancer screening is also recommended by ACS for all women above the age of 40.

Breast cancer screening

Breast cancer screening guidelines are set forth by the American College of Radiology and the Society of Breast
Imaging. They include a risk assessment for the woman at age 30 to see if screening earlier than age 40 is needed.
Women previously diagnosed with breast cancer might also benefit from supplemental screening with magnetic
resonance imaging, especially if their cancer was diagnosed at or before the age of 50. Three tests are typically used
in detecting breast cancer:

 A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast used to detect and evaluate breast changes. Its detection ability
depends on tumor size and breast tissue density. Three-dimensional (3D) mammography is a type of digital
mammography in which X-ray machines are used to take pictures of thin slices of the breast from different
angles and computer software is used to construct an image.
 Breast ultrasound is often used along with mammography for high-risk women who cannot undergo MRI
and women with dense breast tissue.
 A breast MRI is used to screen high-risk people and gather more information about a suspicious areas
found on a mammogram or an ultrasound.

According to the American Breast Cancer Foundation, healthcare providers can treat breast cancer in many different
ways. Each individual’s treatment depends on the stage of breast cancer and the plan their doctor recommends. The
different types of treatments that are available are sentinel lymph node biopsy, radiation (including external beam
radiation and brachytherapy, which is internal radiation), chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy and breast-conserving
surgery (also referred to as a partial or segmental mastectomy or lumpectomy).

Why October Is Celebrated As Breast Cancer Awareness Month?

October is celebrated as the breast cancer awareness month all over the world. This helps to create
awareness and bring attention and support to those diagnosed with breast cancer. The idea of awareness is
also to encourage people to go for tests and screening . This would help in early detection and timely
treatment.
According to the National Cancer Registry Program of India, about 1300 Indians die every day due to
cancer. Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer for women. But, the good news is that it
can be survived if it is detected and treated early.

For us to stay aware, it is vital that we know the symptoms to look out for. In this breast cancer awareness
month, you can share your knowledge and pass it on to others as well.

Early Symptoms:

A lump in the breast is perhaps one of the most common signs of breast cancer. But it can cause other
significant changes around the breast area as well. Here are some other changes that may occur.

 The shape of the nipple may change.

 Breast pain does not go away even after the period gets over.
 A new lump occurs that does not go away even after the next period.
 There may be nipple discharge from the breast. It can be red, yellow, or brown.
 There may be redness or swelling without any reason.
 The person may also experience rash, skin irritation, or itchiness on the breast and
surrounding areas.
 The lump may be around the collarbone or under the armpit.

It should be noted that not all lumps are cancerous. Some may be benign. You must schedule an
appointment with your doctor and get it checked out.

Later Signs of Breast Cancer:

 One breast may seem more enlarged than the other.

 The nipple may retract and turn inwards.
 There may be a dimpling on the area of the breast.
 The existing lump may get bigger.
 The person may experience vaginal pain.
 There may be an “orange peel” texture to the skin.
 The lymph nodes in the armpit may be enlarged.
 The person may lose weight unintentionally.
 The veins are visible on the breast.

If you have one or more symptoms of cancer, it does not mean that you have it. There may be other
explanations as well. But, it is important that you get it checked out at the earliest.

Diagnosis

One of the ideas that the breast cancer awareness month wants to spread is to get yourself checked out if
you have any symptoms. For those, who have never been to the doctor for a breast cancer  diagnosis , this
might help calm the nerves.

Physical Examination

When you go to the doctor with symptoms of breast cancer, one of the first tests that they conduct is a
physical examination. The doctor will examine the nipples for discharge or other problems. They also
check the color of the skin and may feel your breasts and armpits to see if there is any lump.
Your family’s history is also of importance here. The doctor may ask if someone in the close kin has had
cancer or not. Based on your answers and what the physical examination showed, more tests may be
needed.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It is important to emphasize the importance of breast cancer awareness month in India as it shoulders
some of the biggest burdens when it comes to cancer. In 2018, over 87,090 deaths occurred due to breast
cancer and over 1,62,468 cases were registered.

Early detection is imperative in cancer patients especially breast cancer. If it is left undiagnosed until
advanced stages, it gets more difficult to treat or contain. Around 60% of breast cancer patients are
diagnosed when the cancer is in the later stages. The late diagnosis is what will cost 76,000 lives by the
year 2025.

Breast cancer in men is often overlooked. Around 1% of breast cancer occurs in men. There is promotion
of it in order to spread the message to all. As it will help more people to be aware of the causes and
symptoms.

When we talk about cancer in women, most of the women who get breast cancer do not have any family
history or risk factors.

Spread the Message to All

People must start normalizing this conversation. In a country like India where tradition and culture
dominate other areas of life, women feel shy and often refuse to go to a doctor for such issues. But, if
ignored, it can lead to serious issues, long bills and even death. In this breast cancer awareness month, let
us spread the message that it is okay to talk about it and to seek help. Being mindful of the symptoms can
help you save lives.