The power of pink is everywhere this October as we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This yearly event is more than just a way to raise funds for breast cancer research. It helps to increase awareness for the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women. Every year in the United States, about 250,000 women and men are diagnosed with breast cancer.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2021 about 42,170 women in the United States will die from breast cancer. As stark as the estimate is, breast cancer deaths have been going down. The death rate from female breast cancer actually dropped 40% from 1989 to 2016. These decreases are credited to improved treatment, increased awareness, and earlier detection through screening.
While there is no way to prevent breast cancer, there are ways most women can lower their risk for the disease. Those include:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Staying physically active
- Limiting the use of alcohol
- Eating a healthy diet
- Breastfeeding
- Avoiding the use of cigarettes
Since breast cancer often has no symptoms, regular breast cancer screenings are still very important at all ages. Mammograms can help doctors detect cancer in the early stages when treatment is most successful.
To learn more about this important topic, join me for a Facebook Live chat on 10/26 at 3 pm with my friends from Western Reserve Hospital. Sharon Martino is their Mammography Manager with over 30 years of experience and will share with us the importance of maintaining breast health at all ages. Just click on Danbury Senior Living on Facebook- give us a call with any questions!
