October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

From ribbons to t-shirts, the world turns pink in October, and for a good reason.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign designed to increase awareness of the disease and screening options available to women. Together, the goal of this international effort is to prevent and detect this common, yet serious disease.

Understanding Breast Cancer

The Importance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) was founded in October of 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and a pharmaceutical company responsible for producing several anti-breast cancer drugs.

Because the exact cause of breast cancer remains unknown, early detection is key. But unfortunately, many women still don’t know the importance of screenings and where they can find inexpensive or free screenings.

Fast Facts: Breast Cancer Statistics

• There are 1.38 million new cases and 458,000 deaths from breast cancer each year.
• In the U.S., 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
• Nearly 95% of all breast cancers in the U.S. occur in women 40 and older.
• Women who get regularly screened for breast cancer have a 47% lower risk of dying from the disease compared to those who don’t.
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the US and the first leading cause of cancer death among women globally.
• Every 2 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the US.
• A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
• In the U.S. today, there are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors — the largest group of all cancer survivors.

Early Detection

When breast cancer is detected in its earliest stage (when the cancer is located only in the breast) the 5-year survival rate is 99%. Currently, 62% of people with breast cancer are diagnosed in this stage.

If the cancer is detected once it’s spread to the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is still a promising 85%.