October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: here's what you need to know
In the Netherlands, 1 in 7 women gets breast cancer. In 2022, approximately 18,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Too many, we can all agree on that. That is why October has been Breast Cancer Awareness Month since 1985. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer, educate the public about its symptoms and prevention, and fund research into its causes, treatment, and cure. For those affected by breast cancer or who have survived it, it can also be a time to reflect, to remember those who did not survive this terrible disease and to celebrate those who have been cured. It is more important than ever to keep a close eye on your own health, so in honor of this month, I have compiled everything you need to know.
Self-examination
More than 80 percent of breast cancer patients are over 50 years old. Nevertheless, it is important to regularly check yourself for lumps or other irregularities. According to the KWF, you can do this best in the following way:
1. Stand in front of the mirror and look at your breasts. Check if you see anything unusual.
2. Besides looking, it is also important to feel.
3. Place your left arm behind your neck and feel your left breast with your flat right hand.
4. Feel every part of your breast with gentle circular motions, from the outside in. It is important to feel all the way up to your collarbone and armpit.
5. Check if you feel a lump, hardening, or other change.
6. Do the same with your right breast.
7. Do you feel or see anything different than normal or are you worried? Then go to your doctor.
Do this check in the week after your menstruation, as your menstruation affects your breasts. Changes to look out for include: hard lumps, dents in your breast, bumps, hardenings, changes to the skin, orange peel skin, change in shape or size, redness or warmth, a thick vein, a nipple crust, an inverted nipple, and fluid loss from the nipple. This self-examination is crucial. With early detection of stage 1, the 5-year survival rate is 99 percent. For other stages, the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer has also significantly improved over the past 60 years (thanks in part to research): from 52 percent in 1955 to 88 percent now.
Population screening
Every two years, all women between the ages of 50 and 75 are invited to participate in a population screening. During this screening, X-rays of the breasts are taken, which is called a mammogram. If an abnormality is seen, further investigation is done in the hospital. A diagnosis can only be made based on this additional investigation in the hospital. By participating in the screening, between 850 and 1075 fewer women die from breast cancer each year. Breast cancer can also be detected and treated at an early stage through this screening. This reduces the chance of metastasis and the treatment may be less severe.
For women under 50, X-rays are difficult to assess because they have a lot of glandular tissue. For women over 75, breast cancer develops very slowly. Therefore, the chance of dying from breast cancer is smaller.
Myths about breast cancer
Over the years, we have all undoubtedly heard a number of myths about breast cancer. The KWF has therefore compiled the most common myths to debunk them.
You can get breast cancer from using deodorant
Scientific research shows that there is no connection. A lot of research has been done on a relationship between deodorant and breast cancer. The use of parabens as a preservative for cosmetics and deodorant has been approved by the European Commission.
Wearing an underwire bra increases the risk of breast cancer
Wearing bras with or without underwire does not lead to the development of breast cancer.
Only women can get breast cancer
Men can also get breast cancer. In 2022, 165 men were diagnosed with breast cancer.
Women with large breasts are more likely to get breast cancer
Breast size does not influence the development of breast cancer.
Breast cancer always starts as a lump in the breast
There are many more symptoms that can indicate breast cancer, such as an inverted or leaking nipple, or other changes that you can read about above.
Breast cancer is always hereditary
It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of breast cancer patients have a hereditary predisposition to the disease.
Take action
It is clear that research plays the biggest role in improving these figures. If you want to know what you can do to support this research, visit the Pink Ribbon website to discover how you can help.
Sources: National Breast Cancer Foundation, , KWF
