October Is Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

Dear Readers:

Were you aware that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Well, you are now; and I am here to make you even more aware of it with some fast facts about breast cancer – starting with the fact that the illness is not exclusive to women! Roughly 10% of breast cancer patients are men, which is one reason why the men out there should pay attention, too!

Twelve Facts To Help Make You More Aware 

Of Breast Cancer

1. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime

2. 85% of all people diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease

3. Although Black/African-American women have a lower incidence of breast cancer, they have a higher mortality rate. It has been shown that they are often afflicted with a faster spreading strain of the disease. Early detection can save lives!

4. The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (the older you are, the higher your risk) – regardless of whether or not you are a smoker!

5. Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer among U.S. women who have died of cancer

6. There are almost three million survivors of breast cancer in the U.S. today, making them the largest group of all cancer survivors

In memory of Bridget J. "Birdie" Winiarski Dybala
October 30, 1921 - August 15, 1995

7. Almost 90% of breast cancers that are asymptomatic will be caught by mammograms and treated early, when recovery rate is the highest

8. Former First Lady Betty Ford was the first major American celebrity to come forward and talk about the disease, and worked as an advocate for funding of breast cancer research for more than 30 years

9. Although scientists do not know why, the left breast is more prone to cancerous tumors than the right – so give that sister a little extra attention during your monthly self-exam!

10. The United States has the most (reported) cases of breast cancer than anywhere else in the world

11. Nursing your babies (breastfeeding) can drastically reduce your chances of developing breast cancer

12. One in 40 women of Ashkenazi (Eastern European) Jewish descent carry the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene, the gene which mutates to cause many types of breast cancer. This is approximately 1000% higher than women in the general population, so if you are of Ashkenazi descent, you have all the more reason to do a monthly self-exam! It isn't dirty; it's medical!

So ladies (and gentlemen), pay attention to your bodies, your risk factors, and Maxine! Get checked!

Snuggles,

Tazi

Ask Tazi! is ghostwritten by a human with Bachelors degrees in Communications and in Gender and Women's Studies. Tazi-Kat is not really a talking feline.