When the American Cancer Society partnered with the pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca to create, promote, and publicize the very first National Breast Cancer Awareness Month back in October of 1985, there is little doubt they did so with relatively modest ambitions. But the idea succeeded beyond the wildest imaginations of even the most optimistic supporters of the concept, and pink has now become the most ubiquitous of all the fall colors that decorate the American landscape each and every October.
While there are many wonderful charities and fundraising events taking place this month that are worthy of everyone’s support, the primary purpose of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is still, of course, to raise awareness among individual women about the threat this disease represents to those of all ages, backgrounds, and health conditions. The truth is that breast cancer can strike any woman at any time, and there is no one who should feel completely safe or protected from the possibility that they will at some point in their lives be one of the approximately 200,000 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States every year.
But while all women need to be aware of breast cancer, there are some women – tens of millions of women in fact – who need to raise their awareness even further. A number of risk factors have been identified that can predispose women to developing breast cancer, and women who possess the characteristics or participate in the behaviors connected to an elevated risk for breast cancer need to pay careful attention to what medical researchers have learned about a disease that can develop suddenly and without warning. Right from the beginning, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month campaigns have focused heavily on publicizing the importance of early detection and screening mammograms, and women who face higher risks for the disease are the target audience for these appeals.
Assessing Your Own Personal Risk
Here are a few questions that all women might want to ask themselves, just so they can have an accurate idea of what their real risks of eventually developing breast cancer might be:
How old am I?: A rhetorical question perhaps, but an important one nonetheless, since breast cancer rates begin to rise incrementally and dramatically after women move past the age of 40, which is why cancer authorities have been recommending that women begin having screening mammograms taken once they reach this age. There is some controversy over whether women really need to start having these tests performed so early; but once a woman passes the age of 50, few disagree that regular screening mammograms are important to help women catch breast cancers in their earliest stages.
Am I overweight?: Obesity is a well-established risk for breast cancer. This is especially the case in postmenopausal women diagnosed with the disease, since fat cells are the body's primary source of estrogen after the ovaries stop producing it. The presence of estrogen is a risk factor for breast cancer because some cancer cells can capture its molecules and process them as an energy source to fuel rapid growth and cellular division.
Do I drink alcohol?: Alcohol consumption has been linked to increases in breast cancer rates. It has been found in the past that moderate amounts of alcohol can provide certain health benefits. However, heavier drinking causes damage to the body that accumulates over time, and this includes raising the risk of cancer.
Do I smoke?: Most people are already aware of the multiple health problems associated with this habit. Now, very recent research has revealed a stronger connection to breast cancer than had previously been believed to exist.
Am I getting any exercise?: Stimulating physical activity has innumerable benefits for the human body, and there is intriguing research to suggest that exercise can function as an antidote to cancers of all types, including cancer of the breast.
Am I taking hormone replacement therapy?: Given to some women to help treat the symptoms of menopause, adding extra female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone to the body has now been conclusively proven to raise breast cancer rates by a statistically significant amount.
Does my family have a history of breast cancer: Family history is a strong indicator of future breast cancer risk, especially when first grade relatives (a mother, sister, or daughter) have suffered from the disease. If a woman does not know for sure if any of her family members have had breast cancer, she should begin asking questions about the subject immediately.
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