Breast Cancer

 

Breast cancer accounts for 15% of all cancer diagnoses in 2023: The urgent need for awareness and early detection

by Caelan McGee

15% of all cancer diagnoses and seven percent of deaths due to cancer in 2023 have been caused by breast cancer in the United States. 

That's why breast cancer awareness is important to help catch the disease as quickly as possible.

"Breast cancer (awareness) is really important for helping your health, helping your family's health," said Dr. Katherine Holbrook, an A.T. Still University Kirksville Family Medicine Primary Care physician. "It helped save my mom. She had breast cancer in her thirties, and it was very aggressive and early detection is the reason that she's still around today and can enjoy life with her grandkids and her children."

Medical experts say that the number of people being diagnosed with cancer has increased to a concerning level with over 12% of women being diagnosed at some point in their lifetime.

"It's the second most common cause of cancer in women, and it's the second most common deadly cancer in women," Dr. Holbrook said. "So it's about one in eight chance of getting it in your lifetime. And the incidence is increasing. Overall, it's about 0.5% increasing."

That's why it's important to know the signs of breast cancer so you can start treatment as soon as possible.

"Changes in the texture of your breast," Dr. Holbrook said. "Either a mass or swelling. Changes in the skin. So you can see a rash like a scaly ulceration. You can see dimpling, which is often a sign. You can have pain, but not always."

Several ways to prevent cancer include lifestyle changes and constant testing for the disease.

"Avoiding a sedentary lifestyle, avoiding obesity after menopause, reducing our alcohol consumption and getting regular screenings for breast cancer as well," Dr. Holbrook added. "That can reduce your risk of death by breast cancer by about 26%."

It's recommended if you are over the age of 40 you should get tested for breast cancer once every one or two years.