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Importance and Awareness of Breast Cancer
October is known globally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This is the month of raising awareness, making early detection, and supporting those who are affected by breast cancer. 99% of women are affected by breast cancer, while only 0.5% – 1% of men suffer from this disease. Breast Cancer Awareness is essential for educating people with breast cancer worldwide. The pink ribbon is the symbol of breast cancer awareness, this symbol gives young women hope to fight against breast cancer. It also focuses on the fact that women need to take care of their health proactively and should be able to talk about this disease normally. This awareness month makes doctors realize to improve the treatment options to reduce the breast cancer rate worldwide. It is also a celebration time for people who have lost the battle. Through education, research, and effective treatment, breast cancer can be eradicated.
In this blog, we will provide you with survival rates for breast cancer, prevention tips against breast cancer, and how Jenna Fischer fought against this disease.
Survival Rates for Breast Cancer
1. Survival Rates for Breast Cancer based on Age Groups
This pie chart explains the breast cancer diagnosis and deaths based on the age group according to 2024. The chart is distributed on the survival rates for breast cancer of women who are under and above the age of 50 and 70. It is categorized into several women’s deaths, new cases, and diagnoses in the year 2024.
2. Survival Rates for Breast Cancer based on Race/Ethnicity
The table below gives you summarized information about the total number and percentage of women suffering from this disease across different countries, races, and socioeconomic factors.
➤ White Women: Though the number of breast cancer cases is high at 39%, the mortality rate is low at 34% due to early diagnosis, awareness, and treatment.
➤ Black Women: The percentage of women having breast cancer is 37%, but the mortality rate is high, which is 46%. This might be due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to healthcare facilities.
➤ Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI): The percentage of cases for AAPI women diagnosed with breast cancer is around 29%, with a lower mortality rate of 20%. Early detection of cancer and less aggressive cancer types might be the reason.
➤ Hispanic Women: Hispanic women have a proportional number of incidents and death rates to other groups. This is because women might face challenges in getting access to health care.
➤ American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN): AIAN women might face a higher mortality rate because of significant healthcare challenges.
➤ Other: The ‘other’ represents individuals of mixed or unspecified race with relatively lower rates of mortality and breast cancer incidents.
| Race/Ethnicity | Total Cases | Percentage of Total Cases | Total Deaths | Percentage of Total Deaths | Year |
| White Women | 129,000 | 39% | 19,000 | 34% | 2024 |
| Black Women | 122,000 | 37% | 26,000 | 46% | 2024 |
| Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) | 96,000 | 29% | 11,000 | 20% | 2024 |
| Hispanic Women | 83,000 | 25% | 14,000 | 25% | 2024 |
| American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) | 90,000 | 27% | 20,000 | 36% | 2024 |
| Other | 73,000 | 22% | 10,000 | 18% | 2024 |
Prevention Tips for Breast Cancer
Before we discuss prevention tips for breast cancer, let’s first understand what breast cancer is.
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast Cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the cells of the breasts. This happens when the abnormal cells don’t stop growing, which creates a tumor. Early symptoms of breast cancer include lumps, changes in breast shape or size, nipple discharge, and skin becoming wrinkled. There are different types of breast cancer, such as hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer, and each of them requires a different treatment approach. The treatment approach includes surgery (lumpectomy, mastectomy), radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies, depending on the cancer type and stage.
Understanding Breast Cancer
6 Essential Tips for Breast Cancer Prevention
It is often said that prevention is better than cure. Here are some tips for preventing breast cancer that might help you.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: It is important to maintain a healthy weight as it reduces inflammation and lowers the risk of breast cancer.
- Exercise Regularly: It is necessary to exercise regularly and practice yoga regularly to manage weight and overall well-being.
- Follow a Plant-Based Diet: Consuming fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains and reducing the intake of alcohol and processed foods will prevent breast cancer.
- Limit Alcohol Intake: It is important to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption as even small amounts can increase the breast cancer risk.
- Avoid Environmental Pollutants: Avoid cooking in plastic vessels, foods, fragrances, and personal care items that contain toxic chemicals, as they can disrupt your hormonal balance.
- Consider Non-Hormonal Options: Choose organic dairy products and explore non-hormonal contraceptive methods to prevent yourself from hormone exposure.
Success Story of Jenna Fischer
Jenna Fischer Opens Up About Quietly Overcoming Breast Cancer
‘Strength doesn’t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t’ – Jenna Fischer.
Jenna Fischer, well-known for her performance in the series ‘The Office’, recently shared her battle against stage 1 triple-positive breast cancer on Instagram. She was diagnosed with it in December 2023 after a routine check-up. When she got to know about this, she quickly took action against the same. She underwent 12 weeks of chemotherapy and 3 weeks of radiation. She did a “patchy pixie” haircut to cope with hair loss.
After she triumphed over the breast cancer battle, she mentioned the importance of early detection. They take care of your overall health and schedule annual mammograms to prevent you from this dangerous disease. She not only celebrates her victory but tells others to take charge of their health, which will help to increase the survival rates for breast cancer in women.
Final Thoughts
Breast cancer awareness is necessary for education, early detection, and improved treatment options. The survival rate for breast cancer in women will be around 93% in 2024. This shows there is an increased advancement in screening and therapies. By practicing the above-mentioned preventive measures, one can reduce the risks of this cancer.
