Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2023
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is observed throughout the month of October.
During this month, people raise awareness regarding breast cancer, preventative actions, and ways to donate to support breast cancer research with the hopes of someday finding a cure. U.S. Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day is on October 13.
According to cancer.org and the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer in women, with 1 in 3 women affected by cancer having breast cancer. Breast cancer mostly occurs in middle-aged women, who have a 13% chance of developing it. This means that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their life time. Recent trends show that the incidence rate increases by 0.5% each year. But, the chances of surviving are much higher today, as there are over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the US, including women who are still being treated and those who have completed treatment.
In my life, my mother battled the disease until her passing in September 2020. Losing her to breast cancer was a heartbreaking experience that compelled me to make some significant changes in my life. The loss of my mother served as a wake-up call, prompting me to prioritize my own health and well-being. I started working out regularly and adopted a healthier diet. These changes were my way of trying to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer myself.
In this blog on breast cancer awareness, I hope to honor my mother's memory, raise awareness, and empower individuals to take control of their health. Together, we can stand strong against breast cancer, ensuring that more stories are filled with hope, resilience, and triumph.
Risk Factors
Several risk factors have been proven to have a link to breast cancer.
Genetic Factors
While genetic factors are the first to come to mind, they only make up 13% of people diagnosed with breast cancer. Certain genes cause people to be more susceptible to developing cancer, and a history of previous breast cancer carriers in the family may be a reason to get checked out.
Unhealthy Lifestyle
It comes as no surprise that an unhealthy lifestyle can be a risk factor leading to cancer. In fact, the majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer practiced an unhealthy lifestyle, from having a poor diet to lacking physical activity.
Night Shift Working
Surprisingly, there may be a link between working at night and developing breast cancer. Women who work at night, such as a nurses on a night shift, might have an increased risk of breast cancer due to changes in levels of melatonin and other hormones affected by the body’s exposure to light. This is an area that is still being researched.
Contrary to popular belief, the following are not factors that increase your risk of breast cancer:
Antiperspirants: There has been speculation that antiperspirants cause breast cancer due to ingredients in it being absorbed by the skin barrier, but there is no evidence to suggest that the use of deodorant or antiperspirants will increase your risk of breast cancer.
Bras: There is no credible research that demonstrates an increased risk in wearing, or not wearing, a bra. Some have claimed that underwire bras cause breast cancer by obstructing the lymph flow, but there is no scientific evidence to support this.
Caffeine: There is no link between breast cancer risk and coffee drinking, but, drinking coffee has been associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
Microwaves/Smart Phones: Microwaves and smart phones are not known to cause cancer. Microwave ovens use microwave radiation to heat food, but this does not mean that they make food radioactive, as they heat food by causing water molecules to vibrate. Additionally, studies that have been carried out to try to investigate whether cell phone use is dangerous to human health have deemed that cell phone use does not cause cancer in humans.
Contact or Contagion: Breast cancer is not a contagious disease, your risk will not increase if you have contact with others who do have breast cancer.
Preventative Measures
While the are many risk factors, there are also preventative measures you can take
to lower your risk of breast cancer.
Limit Alcohol Intake
Alcohol is considered one of the biggest risk factors that increase your chances of developing breast cancer, according to the World Health Organization. Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 human carcinogen by IARC, meaning that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption; the risk of breast cancer increases with each unit of alcohol consumed per day. Limiting or avoiding alcohol is the easiest preventative measure you can take to not develop breast cancer.
Maintain a Healthy Weight
According to the American Cancer Society, being overweight or obese after menopause increases the risk of breast cancer. Having more fat tissue can also increase your chance of getting breast cancer because it raising estrogen levels. Women who are overweight also tend to produce more insulin, which is linked to cancer growth and progression. Maintaining a healthy weight also has close ties to maintaining a healthy diet. Diet is thought to be partly responsible for about 30% to 40% of all cancers.
Be Physically Active
Many studies have shown that physically active women have a lower risk of breast cancer than inactive women. Exercise has many biological effects on the body, some of which have been proposed to explain associations with specific cancers. These include: lowering the levels of hormones and growth factors associated with cancer development and progression, reducing inflammation, improving the immune system’s function, and preventing obesity.
Build A Strong Immune System
A strong immune system can reduce your risk of cancer. Eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and managing stress are some actions you can take to build up your immune system. While vitamins and supplements may help support your immune system, there is currently no evidence that they actually protect against infection and disease. Therefore, it is best to support your immune system naturally, especially by eating fruits and vegetables that are already rich in nutrients and vitamins.
Prioritize Sleep
Disruptions in the body's circadian clock, which regulates sleep and many other functions, have been linked to an increased risk of numerous cancers, including breast cancer. Prioritizing sleep helps maintain melatonin levels in a normal range, which also reduces factors such as stress and boosts your immunes system.
Manage Your Stress Levels
Women who are exposed to stress have an higher likelihood of developing breast cancer. Chronic stress exposure has been associated with harmful shifts in the body's homeostasis, which can disrupt the body’s natural processes and weaken your immune system. Along with many other negative effects on the mind, stress can also result in the reinforcement of harmful habits. Learning to manage stress can be an important factor in decreasing your risk of developing breast cancer.
Limit Postmenopausal Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT)
Hormone therapy has been used by women to alleviate menopausal symptoms such as perspiration and hot flashes. The potential associations between systemic hormone therapy for menopausal women and various cancer types have been examined in research. The majority of HRT types increase the likelihood of breast cancer. Choosing to limit or avoid HRT can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.
Choose to Breastfeed After Childbirth
According to research, mothers who breastfeed have a lower risk of developing premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer. During lactation, the most breastfeeding mothers undergo hormonal changes that postpone their menstrual cycles. This reduces a woman's exposure to hormones like estrogen that promotes the formation of breast cancer cells. Breastfeeding can also help remove cells that may have DNA damage, lowering your risk of getting breast cancer.
Mammograms are another important measure you should take, even if you don’t think you are at risk for breast cancer. It doesn’t prevent cancer, but it can help find cancer earlier when it’s more treatable. Most women should get yearly mammograms starting at age 40. However, mammograms can be expensive. Alternative testing methods include ultrasounds and MRIs, which can be cheaper and safer for those who would prefer to avoid mammograms.
How can I help?
Breast Cancer Awareness month is an important month for raising awareness, support, and money to donate to research and further causes. Breast Cancer is a prevalent disease that affects many women - some may even be your own loved ones. Consider taking any of the following actions to help raise awareness or support during this month:
Make a donation to provide mammograms for women in need who can’t afford one
Volunteer to spread awareness and help women who are suffering from breast cancer.
Many companies and small business are donating a share of their profit to breast cancer awareness campaigns and related things. Consider buying products from these companies to help raise money for this cause.
Share information, spread awareness! By spreading awareness on risk factors that lead to cancer and ways to prevent cancer, you can help save lives.
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Awareness Is Power. Every Ribbon Makes A Difference.