Photo credit: Davis
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it is dedicated to inform and educate
people about the dangers of the disease and to show support for survivors and those
battling breast cancer.
During this month you will see a lot of companies and people showcasing pink to show
support.
People take the news of a breast cancer diagnosis differently and also handle their
journey differently. Some people have financial issues when it comes to paying for the
necessary treatments, while some people are in denial and others just dive straight into
the journey of getting the treatment that best suits them.
There are lots of organizations and donation centers all over the nation that participate
in helping out those who are battling the disease. Here in Tallahassee, the Cancer
Center Support Group meets the last Tuesday of every month. It is there to support and
help people find useful resources.
Your risk for breast cancer increases as you get older. Men can also get breast cancer,
but their chances of getting it are rare compared to women.
According to the American Cancer Society about 287,850 breast cancer cases will be
diagnosed in women and about 43,520 women will die from the disease every year.
Sylvia Davis, 41, a former grant specialist who survived breast cancer in 2015, wishes she was more focused on her health before she was diagnosed.
“By the grace of God, I survived one of the hardest times of my life. I battled breast
cancer for seven years,” Davis said. “My advice would be for women to learn about their
family history and to stay on top of their yearly women screenings. Had I been more
attentive to my health I don’t think my cancer would have got so bad.”
Breast cancer typically has no symptoms, That’s why it is important to do your breast
cancer screening yearly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that you may be eligible for free
or low-cost breast cancer screenings if you are between the ages of 40 and 64 years
old and have no insurance and if your yearly income is at or below 250 percent of the
federal poverty level.
To honor breast cancer awareness month the CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention is
focusing on creating content that will give people the motivation to stay on track when it
comes to their journey monitoring signs of breast cancer.
The disease varies by race and ethnicity. Black women have the highest death rate
when it comes to breast cancer while Asian or Pacific Islanders have the lowest death
rate, according to the American Cancer Society.
For more statistics on breast cancer visit the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and the American Cancer Society.