‘Pinktober’: Bringing Awareness to Breast Cancer

The month of October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or BCAM. BCAM is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. It was started in 1985 by the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. Many refer to the month as “Pinktober” due to the pink ribbon that represents breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, “About 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women” in a 2020 estimate. Although not as common in men as it is in women, men can get breast cancer as well. The month brings awareness to the disease by highlighting potential signs, risk factors and treatment.

Breast cancer refers to a malignant tumor that has developed from cells in the breast. Usually breast cancer either begins in the ducts (the passages that drain milk from the lobules, the milk producing glands, to the nipples) or the cells of the lobules. Though not as common, breast cancer can also begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast. Over a period of time, cancer cells invade nearby healthy breast tissue and make their way into the underarm lymph nodes, which are small organs that filter out foreign substances in the body. If cancer cells get into the lymph nodes, they then have a pathway into other parts of the body. A malignant tumor is cancerous and it develops when cells grow uncontrollably while a benign tumor does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body the way cancer does. The stages of breast cancer refer to how far the cancer cells have spread beyond the original tumor. This is usually expressed on a scale of 0 through IV, e.g. stage 4 malignant cancer. Different people develop their own symptoms of breast cancer. Some people do not show any symptoms at all. It varies based on the individual.

Signs of Breast Cancer

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit)
• Swelling or thickening of part of the breast
• Dimpling or irritation of breast skin
• Flaky skin or redness in the nipple area or the breast
• Pain in the nipple area or pulling in of the nipple
• Pain in any area of the breast

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be due to a combination of things- these are called risk factors, things that make a person more likely to get a disease. Some of them are changeable while others are not. In some situations, women and men will get breast cancer without any known risk factors- the presence of one is not an assurance for the disease and not every risk factor has the same effect.

Risk Factors That Cannot Be Changed

• Getting Older- the majority of people with breast cancer are diagnosed after age 50
• Genetic Mutations- Inherited changes to certain genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2
• Family History of Breast Cancer

Risk Factors That Can Be Changed

• Not being physically active
• Drinking alcohol

The treatment of breast cancer depends on the stage of cancer. It can consist of radiation which is a type of treatment that uses beams of intense energy to kill cancer cells, surgery to remove tumors and/or chemotherapy which is a treatment that uses one or more anti-cancer drugs.

Treatment

• Medical Procedures: Teletherapy and Radiation therapy
• Surgery: Mammaplasty, Tissue Expansion, Lumpectomy, Mastectomy and Lymph node dissection
• Medications: hormone-based chemotherapy, estrogen modulator, Chemotherapy and Bone Health

As part of BCAM, people are encouraged to make healthy choices and get checked for breast cancer by getting a mammogram which is a low-energy X-Ray used to examine the human breast for screening and diagnosis. Donations of money are also welcome from many organizations to support individuals who have this disease. People can also volunteer their support and join virtually to help others. The goal of this campaign is to spread as much information about breast cancer as possible, while ensuring that people are better equipped to fight off this disease.

Another way to show support is through attending a “cancer walk” event, where money is donated to breast cancer organizations and people walk a certain distance. Even though many of the cancer walks have been canceled because of COVID-19, participation is open for the Strides Across America Walk Challenge happening Oct. 18-31. This challenge asks people to walk a mile in honor of every person that will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. To sign up, go to the MoveSpring website or download the mobile app.

Top charities to donate to for breast cancer research and funds are The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund and Breast Cancer Prevention Partners.