Did you know that 1 in 8 women are at risk for developing breast cancer?¹ October is a month dedicated to breast cancer education, who it affects, and how you can help those who have it.

To help spread awareness and education about breast cancer, we’ve compiled a list of six facts that you may not have known about breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Affects Men, too

Much of the public’s perception is that breast cancer is a women’s health issue. After all, women are usually the face of these campaigns and will often be the ones who help put together breast cancer awareness events.

However, men are also able to have breast cancer. According to The National Breast Cancer Foundation, 2,800 men will be diagnosed and approximately 510 will die. They also state that men’s breast cancer mortality rate is 19% higher than women’s because awareness for men is lower^.2

That means many men out there don’t think about the possibility of having breast cancer, even if they exhibit the signs and symptoms.

However, you can take steps to start educating others around you to help the men in your life get the care they need. This begins by learning how breast cancer affects men and how they can work to help look out for the warning signs.

Symptoms in Men

A few signs of breast cancer in men include:³

• A lump in the breast
• Pain or aching that feels like tugging in the nipple area
• Redness
• Flaky skin
• Nipple discharge
• An inverted nipple

With this in mind, it’s important for men to periodically observe if they possess any of these symptoms. Regularly checking up on your body can help you or your loved one catch early warning signs. The quicker breast cancer is discovered, the sooner a person can start taking steps to help fight it.

Women who get screened are more likely to survive

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be scary to think about the fact time may be limited. After all, America is still fighting for a cure and looking for new ways to help safely stop breast cancer from spreading throughout the body.

It is recommended that women get screened at least once a year starting at 40 years old until they are 54 years old. After 55, a doctor will recommend to either keep going annually or bi-annually.⁴

Empowering yourself with knowledge of having breast cancer can help you or your loved one get the right care, especially in the early stages. Those who get screened earlier are more likely to get help and will usually need less invasive treatments.

Getting a Mammogram

A mammogram is an x-ray test that scans the breast for cancer. It’s generally recommended by health professionals to get one yearly or biyearly to check for breast cancer.

The American College of Radiology states that mammograms have reduced the amount of breast-cancer related deaths by 40%.⁵ That means by simply having you or your loved one get a mammogram, you can potentially save a life.

You should also be aware that just because you end up with a positive mammogram, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have breast cancer.

Out of a hundred women, ten will be asked to come back – luckily, six of those ten will find that their mammograms are normal.⁶

Your doctor may also look at other medical possibilities if you receive a positive mammogram. However, if you do have breast cancer, it’s better to find out sooner than later.

Breast Cancer is More Likely to Be Found in Older Women

When it comes to the possibility of having breast cancer, age is one of the biggest determining factors for those who are diagnosed.

According to breastcancer.org, roughly two of three breast cancer cases are found in women aged 55 and older.⁷

The older we get, the more we have to work to keep our bodies healthy and in shape. Aging causes more chances for our cells to mutate, and our bodies may not fight off disease as easily as they used to.

However, that doesn’t mean breast cancer can’t affect younger women. Even though women still in their early twenties and thirties are only 5% of all breast cancer cases, it’s still the leading type of cancer for this demographic.⁸

How to prevent breast cancer as you age

No one can prevent aging or other natural risk factors such as genetics.

However, there are still some risk factors you or your loved one can work to change to help prevent breast cancer as you age. These are:

• Living a healthy lifestyle.⁹ This includes no smoking, keeping and maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol. If you focus on your body’s overall health, you can reduce your chance of getting breast cancer. You’ll also feel better as you age if you avoid unhealthy habits.
• Look at your diet. According to the Mayo Clinic, what we eat might be potentially linked to breast cancer risk. They found that women who ate diets such as Mediterranean foods that are healthy lowered the chances of breast cancer. Part of the Mediterranean diet consists of fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and olive oil, all of which help maintain weight and are healthier than traditionally popular American foods.¹⁰

Overall, living your life in a way that actively engages your body and keeps you from harmful, toxic substances can help minimize your breast cancer risk. Learn how to keep yourself healthy so you can live a fulfilling, long-lasting life.

Family History Can Determine Risk

Another fact about breast cancer is that your family history can influence how statistically likely you are to develop it.

Your parents pass down genes to you that determine your overall genetic makeup. That means there’s a chance you may have inherited a gene that increases the likelihood of breast cancer.

Being related to a direct family member who had breast cancer can increase your risk. This includes having a direct family member (sister, mother, grandmother, aunt) who had cancer before 50, possessing an abnormal breast cancer gene, and having other types of cancers in your family.¹¹

However, it’s important to note that even if you inherited a gene or have breast cancer in your family, that doesn’t mean you will necessarily get it. You can start taking preventative measures such as eating right, getting regular checkups, and educating yourself on ways to help minimize the risk.

Genes

The American Cancer Society states that 5-10% of breast cancer cases are due to genetics. This includes the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. These genes usually generate proteins that replicate your DNA correctly, but a mutation can lead to imbalance, which eventually causes cancer.¹¹

Think of your genes as a code that tells your body what to do. When they work properly, they tell your body what exactly needs to be replicated and how. However, as you age, there’s a chance that your genes may replicate incorrectly and start spreading a mutation.

Women with breast cancer who have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene oftentimes have a strong family history of cancer. This includes breast cancer, ovarian, and other cancers.

However, most people who are diagnosed with breast cancer don’t have a family history of it. Only 10% of diagnosed women have a strong family history of breast cancer.¹²

This means even if you’re not in a high risk group, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t or won’t get it.

Continue Your Education

Now that you’ve learned a little about breast cancer and some of the risk factors, we encourage you to take the next step in educating yourself. You never know who you might be able to help by simply being aware of the signs and symptoms.

Learn more about breast cancer and how you can spread awareness by visiting The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s website.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.