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Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Since 1985, October has been recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to raise awareness and devote time and education about the impact of breast cancer and the importance of early detection and access to timely, high-quality care.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in the United States, specifically women over 50 years old. Unfortunately, the impact of the disease is not equal due to the various social determinants of health factors such as socioeconomic status, education, housing, age, and racial and ethnic background (Babatunde et al., 2021). Survival rates for breast cancer have significantly increased for both Black and White women in the last 40 years, most likely due to continuous improvements in medical technology that have enabled early detection and treatment. However, a substantial racial gap remains, with studies indicating a 5-year survival rate of 81% for Black women and 92% for White women in recent years (Yedjou et al., 2019). Understanding the epidemiologic factors and molecular genetics contributing to these differences may further explain the racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer, thus advocating for stakeholders and organizations to raise awareness and funds to support life-saving collaborative research and clinical trials.
With early detection being a critical factor in successful breast cancer treatment, developing robust community-engaged health promotion efforts is essential to promote breast cancer screening and navigate complex treatment options (Dean et al., 2018). Engaging with a range of communities ensures that the information about breast cancer screening and treatment options and the promotion efforts for breast cancer awareness month are inclusive to the needs of all women, regardless of racial and ethnic background, which is critical to any effective policy or practice change efforts (Gehlert et al., 2021).
At Upstate Carolina NCORP, we do not just wear pink. We Take Action!
Remember to:
- Know Risk Factors
- Get Yearly Mammograms
- Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices
- Learn About Clinical Trials
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