Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Raising awareness to promote early detection

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time when the world comes together to raise awareness about breast cancer, promote early detection, and support those affected by the disease. 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.

 

Breast cancer is a concern for women of all ages, but it becomes increasingly relevant for older adults. 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.


Get the latest content first. Sign up for free weekly email alerts.
Subscribe
Author Details

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.