October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 2022

Breast Cancer Awareness

As many of you know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Keep reading to learn more about breast cancer, mammograms, self-exams, risk factors, and prevention methods. If you are a survivor of breast cancer we want to hear your story! Click on the button below to share your personal experience with breast cancer to help encourage and inspire others who may be facing a similar situation.

l

1 in 8 Women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime*

42,000 Women die from breast cancer each year*

30% Of women are NOT up to date with screening recommendations*

50 yrs Or older is when most women are diagnosed with breast cancer*

*From the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) & National Breast Cancer Foundation

Signs & Symptoms

It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms of breast cancer in order to help prevent it.

Some signs and symptoms are:

  • Swelling of all or part of a breast
  • Skin dimpling
  • Breast or nipple pain
  • Nipple retraction
  • Nipple or breast skin that is red, dry, flaking, or thickened
  • Nipple discharge
  • Swollen lymph nodes under the arm or near the collar bone

Use this breast cancer symptom checklist to monitor your body and contact your physician if you notice any changes.

Risk Factors

The following factors increase the likelihood of you developing breast cancer.

How Do I Reduce My Risk?

Throughout your life, many factors can influence your breast cancer risk. Some factors are out of our control, such as getting older or your family history. However, you can help lower your risk of breast cancer by taking care of your health in the following ways:

  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Exercising regularly
  • Limiting alcohol intake
  • Breastfeeding your children, if possible
  • Talking to your doctor if you have taken or been told to take hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives
  • Talking to your doctor if you have a family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes

Screenings

Another way to reduce your risk is to get regular mammograms or breast exams. Read below to learn more.

screening

Mammograms

Regular mammograms can help find breast cancer at an early stage, where treatment is most successful. Learn more about how often you should get one!

M

Screening

Breast Exams

A breast exam can be done in a clinical setting or by yourself. Learn how to conduct a self-breast exam.

e

Types Of Breast Cancer

Curious about the various types of breast cancer? Click each of the blocks below to learn more.

Additional Resources

resource

Breast Cancer Podcast

Brought to you by the CDC, listen and learn about varying breast cancer topics. Topics range from personal survivor stories to answering listeners’ questions and more!

podcast

Share Your Story

s

Survivor Stories

Are you a survivor of breast cancer? We want to hear your story!

Survivor Stories

Name
Max. file size: 125 MB.
Do you give us consent to share your story on the GatorCare website?

More Blog Posts

Lung Cancer Awareness

Category: News

Our lungs are vital organs located in the chest that play a crucial role in our overall well-being, respiratory function, oxygen exchange, and…

Lung Cancer Awareness