Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Risk factors, screening & treatment options

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to driving awareness about prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment options. Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in women globally, and within Canada, it is the third most diagnosed cancer, accounting for 25% of all cancer diagnoses in females. As you age, your risk of developing breast cancer increases, and women between 50 and 69 are more likely to develop it. The good news is, as with other cancers, early detection is essential for developing and executing a treatment plan and for better patient and treatment outcomes.


Whether you are a breast cancer survivor, know someone fighting breast cancer, or want to educate yourself further about it, our evidence-based resources are an excellent place to start. Read on for information about overall lifestyle factors that contribute to your risk of developing cancer, screening, treatment options and more.


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DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.