October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and this is an important issue for many Elders as, “One of the biggest risk factors for the development of breast cancer is age. The median age for breast cancer diagnosis is approximately 60 years, and over 40% of all breast cancers diagnosed are in women aged 65 years or older.” (1)
Breast cancer is also the most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among American women. American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) women have the lowest reported rates of breast cancer, and although this is good news, the unfortunate news is that AI/ANs have higher rates of death from the disease than most other minority groups. (2)
Breast Cancer in Men
Many of the statistics presented on breast cancer do not include men, this is because breast cancer is about 100 times less common for men than women. Even though breast cancer is not as common in men, it is still a concern and an issue, as every year men are still being diagnosed and dying from the disease. As the American Cancer Society estimates, in 2017 there will be around 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer that will be diagnosed in men and about 460 men will die from the disease. (3)
Early Detection is Important
The American Cancer Society states that, “Finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are the most important strategies to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer that’s found early, when it’s small and has not spread, is easier to treat successfully. Getting regular screening tests is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early.” (4)
For more information on early detection and other resources on the disease, visit https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html
Sources
- Turner, N., Zafarana, E., Becheri, D., Mottino, G., & Biganzoli, L. (2013). Breast Cancer in the Elderly. Retrieved October 02, 2017, from http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/817435
- Fred Hutch. (n.d.). American Indians/Alaska Natives and Cancer. Retrieved October 02, 2017, from https://www.fredhutch.org/en/events/cancer-in-our-communities/american-indians-alaska-natives-and-cancer.html#breast
- American Cancer Society. (2017). What Are the Key Statistics About Breast Cancer in Men? Retrieved October 02, 2017, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer-in-men/about/key-statistics.html
- American Cancer Society. (2017). American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer. Retrieved October 02, 2017, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html
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