October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, founded in 1985 to increase awareness and fund research for the most common type of cancer in women.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, and this year, an estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
But breast cancer can often be cured: Approximately 83% of all patients with breast cancer live at least 10 years after their diagnosis. When caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. There are currently more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
Monthly breast self-exams are key to spotting any changes in your breasts, such as:
- Nipple tenderness
- Lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
- A change in the skin texture or an enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast
On October 21, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the UF Health Cancer Centers Community-Partnered Cancer Disparities Research Collaborative (CDRC) and its partners will host a Power Over Breast Cancer Gathering in Gainesville. Attendees will learn about the most effective treatments for breast cancer and ways to prevent late-stage diagnosis. Participants will also share ways to cope with breast cancer and support family members. The gathering will provide an opportunity for attendees to learn about cancer prevention research and how to participate. There will also be opportunities to ask questions about breast cancer. Learn more and register online.
The UF Health Cancer Center will host a Pinktober Kickback 3K Run/Walk on October 7 and a Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K walk on October 21. For more information, visit the UF Health Cancer Center website.
The UF Health Breast Center also provides a multi-disciplinary team that brings together breast surgeons, plastic and reconstructive surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists to streamline and personalize care for women diagnosed with breast cancer as well as women at high risk for breast cancer.
The UF Health Breast Center is a nationally recognized center of excellence and is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Cancer Centers. Learn more about the UF Health Breast Center here.
