October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise both awareness and funds for research and treatment.
The iconic pink ribbon was adopted in October 1992 as a symbol of hope and strength for those facing breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, promoted by the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Many organizations participate with fundraising activities. The Susan G. Komen march, presently called the MORE THAN PINK Walk, will be virtual this year Oct. 10, 2026 — anyone can walk and donate toward Komen’s goal of $380,000.
Many retail stores, such as Macy’s, Vera Bradley, Express and FIGS, offer promotions to raise money and donate up to 15% of profits to cancer research or patient support and advocacy organizations. Dick’s Sporting Goods usually partners with the National Breast Cancer Foundation with “The Power of Pink” promotions featuring pink clothing from athleticwear brands.
The KnitWell Group, with several of its stores (including local favorites such as Chico’s, Ann Taylor, Loft, Soma, Talbots and White House Black Market), launched its “Sisterhood of Strength” 2026 campaign in September, supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. It is the second leading cancer and cause of cancer death in women in the United States. While the vast majority of those who develop breast cancer are women, the disease can also affect men.
According to the ACS, 316,960 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, and 42,170 are expected to die. An estimated 2,810 men were diagnosed, and 510 will likely die. The National Cancer Institute notes that 13.1% of women in the United States (that’s one in eight) will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.
One in 800 men (0.13%) will be diagnosed. While most breast cancer occurs in women over age 55, young women are not immune, and 12% of instances occur in women younger than 45.
Cancer is the rapid growth of abnormal cells that occurs when the DNA in some normal cells somehow becomes damaged. Sometimes the body can destroy these aberrant cells, but more often they proliferate and divide more quickly than healthy cells. They form a mass or lump and can spread to other parts of the body and invade healthy tissue. There are several types of breast cancer depending on where it is located in the breast.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is an early form of breast cancer. The abnormal cells inside a milk duct have not spread to other parts of the breast or adjacent lymph nodes. Treatment may include surgery, hormone therapy and radiation therapy.
Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is the most common type of breast cancer and starts in the cells that line a milk duct. Cancer cells break through the duct wall and spread into adjoining breast tissue, and can then spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream or lymph system.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) starts in the milk-producing glands, or lobules. This, too, can spread to other parts of the body. Of interest is that this form of breast cancer will affect both breasts in about 20% of women with ILC. What can be confusing is lobular carcinoma in situ. This is not actually cancer, but a precursor, and is often found on biopsy or imaging studies other than mammograms for another suspicious lump or mass. There are other, less common breast cancers as well.
Treatment of invasive breast cancers will depend on the type and stage of the cancer — how advanced it is and where it may have spread. Different surgeries include lumpectomy (just tumor removal), mastectomy (breast removal) and lymph node removal.
Radiation treatment uses an external beam to target either just the cancer site or the entire breast. Systemic treatments include chemotherapy, anti-cancer drugs that may be given as intravenous medication on a scheduled basis, or an oral pill taken daily depending on the particular cancer.
Hormonal therapy is used when the cancer cells have receptors for estrogen or progesterone (a receptor is a site on a cell surface that can bind with a particular substance). Hormone blockers help prevent cancer growth and may be taken for many years.
Then there is targeted therapy, which kills cancer cells by interfering with specific proteins in the cell that promote growth. Research has opened new avenues for successful treatment and continues to explore ways to treat breast cancer.
The five-year survival rates are approximately 99% for localized disease (breast tissue only), 86% for regional involvement (cancer affecting nearby lymph nodes) and 28% for distant-stage disease (a farther spread, such as to bones, lungs and liver). But these statistics change with improved treatment and should be individualized. Overall, the death rate for breast cancer has been steadily declining since 1989.
There are breast cancer symptoms that warrant evaluation.
A lump that is new and not associated with the menstrual cycle (not all breast lumps are cancer!), changes in the appearance of the nipple, any change or puckering of breast skin, any nipple discharge and changes in the size or appearance of a breast compared to the other need to be evaluated. Breast pain is NOT a common symptom of cancer.
Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but there are ways to reduce the risk of any cancer. Not smoking, getting adequate physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and eating vegetables and fruits every day are healthy lifestyle choices that may reduce risk.
As with many other illnesses, screening is essential. Monthly self-breast exams are recommended by some organizations and health care providers, but have not been found to be as effective as clinical exams.
Routine mammograms, ultrasound imaging and MRIs can detect the smallest cancers for earlier treatment.
The most recent screening rates among women ages 50 to 74 in 2024 vary by state, with Rhode Island highest at 83% and Wyoming lowest at 58%, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Women with “dense breasts,” that is, less fat tissue identified by mammography, should consider MRI for more accurate screening. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic halted or delayed many screening exams (and treatment) for more than two years, but the numbers have improved steadily since then.
Screening recommendations differ depending on the organization. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American College of Radiology, the Society of Breast Imaging and the American Cancer Society do not put age limits on screening.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommend biennial screenings from age 40 through 74, with insufficient evidence to recommend screening after 75. However, age should NOT keep any woman from screening or following up with any suspicious lesions, especially if she enjoys good health and quality of life. (My own grandmother discovered a lump when she was 99. She had surgery and oral chemotherapy and lived until almost 104, and did not die from breast cancer!)
This year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month will hopefully spur an increase in screenings, education, volunteering and even donations for research and support for women facing this cancer. ”
