It seems that every time we turn around these days, we’re hearing of someone new being diagnosed with breast cancer. Whether a family member, close friend, co-worker, or celebrity, the numbers have been on the rise and seem to show no indication of slowing down.
Take a moment to wrap your head around these statistics…
- About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
- In 2017, an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,410 new cases of non–invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
- About 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2017. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
Although we can see that the numbers are on the rise, there are a couple of things we can do to be proactive:
Get your Screenings! Plain and simple, folks (men are included in this)
This is not only dangerous, but a clear indication that either one feels that they can escape the reach of cancer or they don’t fully realize the power cancer can have on one’s life. It is vital that every woman (and man) get yearly screenings, making sure to do self-checks on a monthly basis.
Lifestyle: While there’s been an influx in those adopting healthy habits (diet, exercise, holistic health approaches, etc.), there still remains to be a rather large indication that one’s lifestyle can lead to a cancer diagnosis. This is particular true of those that participate in smoking, excessive alcohol usage and recreational drug use. Predisposition to cancer due to your lineage is unavoidable, but the manner in which you live your life can easily change the trajectory of your future health.
Age: Life expectancy is expanding, and while that’s generally a positive thing, it also brings about an increase in chances of being diagnosed with cancer, for women this generally means breast cancer.
Environmental Factors: Stress, exhaustion, and unhealthy relationships—all these and much more make for unwelcome components in one’s direct surroundings.
The battle against cancer will eventually be won, while we don’t know when that is and may never see the day, it’s still a cause worthy of our time, efforts and support.
“Having courage does not mean that we are unafraid. Having courage and showing courage mean we face our fears. We are able to say, ‘I have fallen, but I will get up!’”- Maya Angelou
