October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month- Here’s What You Need To Know

Omer Awan, Senior Contributor Forbes Magazine

In the United States, October is perhaps most well-known for the beautiful foliage of autumn and of course Halloween. This month also marks an important time dedicated to spreading awareness about breast cancer. During this month, the healthcare community comes together to educate the world about breast cancer, spread awareness, and uplift those affected by it. Below are the most important points to remember about breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Is Common

According to the American Cancer Society, after skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst American women. In 2023 alone, over 43,000 women will die of breast cancer in America, making it the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer.

The average risk of an American women to develop breast cancer is about 13%. This means women living in America have a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer sometime in their life.

Men Can Also Get Breast Cancer

Although the vast majority of breast cancer occurs in women, men can also be affected by it. According to the CDC, one out of every 100 cases of diagnosed breast cancer occur in men.

Although overall rare for men, risk factors for breast cancer in a man include a family history of prior male breast cancer, age of over 50, certain genetic mutations, hormone or radiation therapy, liver disease and obesity. Breast cancer can have a variety of symptoms, but common ones for men include a lump that you can feel, nipple discharge, redness or flaky skin in the breast and dimpling of breast skin.

Cases Are Rising In Young Americans

Most cases of breast cancer occur in elderly women, with the median age of diagnosis at 62. This means that 50% of breast cancer diagnoses occur in women under the age of 62. Importantly, 9% of all new breast cancer diagnoses actually occur in women under the age of 45.

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open also found that cancers in general have been increasing in Americans under the age of 50, with the largest number of cancer cases in young Americans attributed to breast cancer.

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The rise of cancers, and particularly breast cancer amongst middle age and younger Americans underscores the importance of educating the public on common breast cancer symptoms as well as the importance of making screening widely available for all people regardless of race, ethnicity, social status or income-level.

Screening Saves Lives

Along with breast exams performed by both patients and physicians, breast cancer is usually screened for by mammograms, which are x-ray images that radiologist physicians interpret to detect suspicious lesions that could represent cancer.

Recently, the United States Preventive Services Task Force proposed draft guidelines to screen average risk women starting at the age of 40, with continued screening every other year until the age of 74. Data shows that screening at the age of 40 decreases mortality and saves lives when compared to no screening with mammography. Early detection remains pivotal for survival and to prevent late diagnosis of cancers that may be aggressive and difficult to treat.

AI Can Help Physicians Detect Breast Cancer

A recent study published in The Lancet Oncology examined the detection of breast cancers on mammograms between two seasoned radiologists and a single radiologist and AI. In the study, AI-supported mammography resulted in a slight increased rate of cancer detection of six per 1,000 screened women, compared to five per 1,000 when two radiologists read the study without AI.

When considering the millions of women that will partake in screening mammograms, AI could potentially save thousands of lives in detecting cancers alongside radiologists. This, of course, could be a gamechanger given the rise of breast cancers that are occurring especially in young Americans.

October

This month should function as a powerful reminder of the importance of early screening and education with respect to breast cancer. As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all Americans should unite and work towards a future where cancer diagnoses decrease and more lives continue to be saved.