Breast cancer awareness month is an annual campaign celebrated in October to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer.
Breast cancer has become the most commonly diagnosed cancer type in the world in 2020. International agency for research on cancer (IARC) estimates that there were more than 2.26 million new cases of breast cancer and almost 685 000 deaths from breast cancer worldwide in 2020 exceeding the number of lung cancer for the first time. Breast cancer was the most common cause of cancer death in women and the fifth most common cause of cancer death overall.
According to WHO Breast cancer is also the most prevalent cancer worldwide, and there are eight million women living with breast cancer who were diagnosed in the past five years.
Breast cancer is prevalent in every country, and most breast cancers develop in middle-aged women without any identifiable risk factors. As breast cancer can be treated successfully if diagnosed early, women finding an abnormal lump in the breast should consult a health professional even when there are no other symptoms associated with it. Early diagnosis helps treatment to be more successful and improves the long-term survival of the patient. In recent years, improvements have been made in survival in countries with early screening and detection programs, combined with advances in treatment.
Things to avoid to reduce your risk of cancer:
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Obesity
- Unhealthy Diet
- Inactivity
5 steps to detecting breast cancer:
- Practice routine self-examination
- Know your risk and family history
- Visit your doctor regularly
- Know when to get a mammogram
- Follow up after a screening or test.
Note – Men may not think of themselves as having breast cancer. However, men have breast tissue and are therefore susceptible to breast cancer, although it is rare for men.
