Breast Cancer Facts: 5 Things About Breast Cancer You May Not Know by Sophia L. Thomas, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year in the United States, there are more than 297,790 diagnosed cases of breast cancer. However, with monthly self-exams, annual clinical exams and mammograms, a majority of breast cancer diagnoses can be caught in the early stages and treated successfully. Breast cancer can impact everyone. 

Here are some fast facts you may not know:

1. Each year, 287,850 women and 2,800 men in the U.S. are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.

2. About 43,700 women and 530 men in the U.S. die each year from breast cancer.

3. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. (Only lung cancer kills more women each year.) The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 39 (about 2.5 percent).

4. There are some risk factors you can control to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. These include: 

• Taking hormones.
• Excessive alcohol consumption.
• Physical inactivity.

5. At this time there are more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.

If you have questions about breast cancer, or if you have a family history of breast cancer, it’s important to reach out to your health-care provider or nurse practitioner to schedule a checkup and ensure the health of your breasts.

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