National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month, the campaign, which is composed of various public service groups, doctors’ associations, and government agencies, attempts to raise awareness of breast cancer and provide screening services.
The National Cancer Institute provides information about breast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. According to its Web site, 13.2% of women born today will experience a breast cancer diagnosis during their lives. However, a given woman’s chance of developing breast cancer depends on a number of factors, including family history, reproductive history and other factors that are not fully understood..
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation offers a variety of suggestions for early detection and screening, including a combination of breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammograms, depending on your age.