October may be best known for the costumes, trick-or-treaters and jack-o’-lanterns of Halloween. But especially in the medical community and among the millions of Americans whose lives have been impacted by breast cancer, it sees plenty of people donning pink ribbons, too.
That’s because, for nearly 40 years now, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been observed during the year’s tenth month — all in an effort to educate U.S. healthcare consumers about the disease and the importance of early detection.
What is breast cancer?
The second most prevalent type of cancer diagnosed in women (after skin cancer), breast cancer is a disease that starts when cells in the tissues of the breast begin to grow uncontrollably. While most breast lumps are not harmful and do not turn into cancer, some types can increase a person’s risk for getting breast cancer — making it critical to have any breast abnormality or change investigated by a healthcare provider. When breast cancer is present, it can spread (metastasize) into other parts of the body via the blood or lymphatic system.
Prevalence and statistics
While the disease affects both men and women, the vast majority of cases occur in women. According to estimates from the American Cancer Society (ACS), nearly 311,000 women will be diagnosed with new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2024, and about 42,250 women will die from the disease over the course of the year. The average American woman, according to the ACS, has a roughly one in eight (13%) chance of developing breast cancer over the course of her life, and the median age at diagnosis is 62.
Risk factors
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a number of factors can contribute to a person’s risk for developing breast cancer, with the leading factors including being a woman and being of advanced age (with most breast cancers diagnosed at age 50 or older). Other risk factors include:
- Genetic mutations: Inherited mutations to genes such as the tumor-suppressing BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes can increase a woman’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
- Reproductive system history: Women who begin getting menstrual periods before 12 years of age and who begin menopause after age 55 are at higher risk of getting breast cancer due to longer exposure to hormones.
- Dense breasts: Because having more connective tissue than fatty tissue in the breasts can make it harder for mammograms to reveal tumors, having dense breasts increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.
- Personal breast cancer or breast disease history: When a woman has had breast cancer in the past, she’s more likely than the average woman to develop it again. In addition, some noncancerous breast diseases raise a woman’s breast cancer risk.
- A family history of breast or ovarian cancer: Having a first-degree relative (such as a mother, sister or daughter) or multiple family members who have had breast or ovarian cancer risk raises one’s risk of developing breast cancer.
- Lifestyle factors: Breast cancer risks can be higher for women who don’t get adequate physical activity, who are overweight or obese after menopause, who take certain hormones or oral contraceptives, who drink alcohol excessively, or who have their first pregnancy after age 30, never breastfed or never carried a pregnancy to full term.
Prevention tips
While there is no certain way to prevent breast cancer, women who take steps to minimize the above-mentioned lifestyle factors — such as by exercising, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, breastfeeding, and limiting or avoiding alcohol — can lower their controllable risks of breast cancer. Women with an increased risk of breast cancer can consider genetic counseling and genetic testing, risk-lowering medicines, preventive surgery (for those with especially high risk), and close observation to catch any early signs of breast cancer.
Common symptoms
The signs and symptoms of breast cancer vary for different people, and some breast cancer patients have no symptoms present at all. According to the CDC, the most common warning signs of breast cancer can include:
- An unfamiliar lump in the breast or armpit
- Swelling or thickening in the breast
- Irritation or dimpling of the skin on the breast
- Skin flaking or redness in the nipple area or elsewhere on the breast
- Any nipple discharge other than milk, including blood
- Pain in the nipple area or in any other area of the breast
- A pulling in of the nipple
- Changes in the breast’s size or shape
One of the best ways to catch the early warning signs of breast cancer is via regular (at least monthly is recommended) self-examination. It’s also important to follow screening guidelines, which vary based on a person’s breast cancer risk.
Treatment options
Once diagnosed, breast cancer can be treated in a range of ways, with the ideal option(s) for treatment depending on the type of breast cancer and how far throughout the body it has spread. Some of the most common treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy and radiation therapy.
For comprehensive breast care, trust Wilmington Health
Dedicated to providing TRUE Care in a patient-centered environment, the Breast Health Team at Wilmington Health leverages the most up-to-date technology available to deliver comprehensive breast care, from screening and diagnosis to treatment wellness. The team’s full range of specialists includes primary care providers spanning our Internal Medicine, Family Medicine and OB/GYN departments, as well as caregivers specializing in breast surgery, plastic and reconstructive surgery, and mammography.
To learn more about the Breast Health Team at Wilmington Health and the compassionate, quality care its members provide, visit our website today.