Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2024

Presented by Aetna.

Easy 93.1 and Aetna support Breast Cancer Awareness, Early Detection and Prevention.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Easy 93.1 has teamed up with Aetna to raise awareness and educate our community about Breast Cancer Awareness.

Understanding the risks associated with breast cancer and participating in recommended screenings is key to detect breast cancer early and improve outcomes. Aetna is committed to supporting individuals through prevention and treatment, making health care more affordable and accessible for all. To learn more about breast cancer prevention and tips, visit us at https://www.cvsspecialty.com/resource-center/breast-cancer.html.

CVS Health and Aetna are actively working to enhance access to breast cancer screenings and preventive care. Aetna provides educational resources to help increase awareness about the importance of breast cancer screenings. CVS Health® is committed to finding new ways to support your health journey. We are making health care more affordable, connected and better for all.

Visit us at www.CVS.com.

Background

Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries. Betty Ford helped kick off the week-long event, as she was herself a survivor of breast cancer. She was diagnosed when her husband, Gerald Ford, was president of the United States and brought even more attention to breast cancer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. The goal is to get as many people as possible involved in raising awareness and funds to help support life-saving research and life-changing support.

Learn more about Breast Cancer, risk factors, prevention and more, below. You’ll also find a list of local organizations that provide support and services for people and loved ones coping with Breast Cancer.

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast Cancer Statistics:

Breast Cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in women (after skin cancer).
1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer during their lifetime.
40,000 women die from Breast Cancer annually
11% of Breast Cancers are diagnosed in women under the age of 45.
More young women (under 40) are being diagnosed with Breast Cancer - and at later stages. Don’t hesitate to see your doctor if you feel that something is not right.
While some forms of Breast Cancer are related to genetic factors, 95% of Breast Cancers occur randomly.
Early detection is the key to surviving Breast Cancer.
During the Pandemic, Breast Cancer Screenings dropped by 80% - Don’t Delay Longer!

Events and Specials During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 11, 20:24, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.: 2nd Annual Breast Cancer Awareness & Community Health Fair, at the City of Lauderdale Lakes Multi-Purpose Auditorium, 4340 N.W. 36th St., Lauderdale Lakes, 33319. Free admission. Registration requested. For more information, email: ralphmideb@lauderdalelakes.org

October 12, 2024, 7:00 a.m.: 5th Annual Paint Perrine Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Walk, at West Perrine Park, 10301 S.W. 170th Ter. 33157. Includes free food, activities for kids, and community resources.

October 13, 2024, 7:30 a.m.: Plantation Goes Pink 5k Run / Walk at Plantation Central Park, 9151 N.W. 2nd St, Plantation, 33324. All funds raised go to the Women’s Breast & Heart Initiative, to support their mission of providing no-cost mammograms and disease prevention and education.

October 19, 2024, 7:00 a.m.: Susan G. Komen More Than Pink Walk Miami / Fort Lauderdale at Amelia Earhart Park, 401 E. 65th St, Hialeah, 33013. Join Cox Media Group for the annual Walk that helps raise money to fund research for new and better treatments, as well as to provide services for people dealing with Breast Cancer.

October 26, 2024, 7 a.m.: American Cancer Society’s ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - Miami’ at Loan Depot Park.

October 26, 2024, 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.: 2nd Annual Pink Out Breast Cancer Awareness Dinner at Lauderdale Lakes Multi-Purpose Center, 4340 N.W. 36th St., Lauderdale Lakes, 33319. Proceeds support local residents going through Breast Cancer Chemotherapy treatments.

Kinds of Breast Cancer

The most common kinds of breast cancer are:

Invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer cells begin in the ducts and then grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body. Invasive lobular carcinoma. Cancer cells begin in the lobules and then spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.

Early Detection is the Key

Your doctor will check your breasts and lymph nodes during your annual Women’s Wellness Exam, but Mammograms are the most common way that Breast Cancer is detected.

If an abnormality is detected in a Screening Mammogram, you may be sent for a Diagnostic Mammogram, Breast Ultrasound or Breast MRI. Pending those outcomes, a needle biopsy may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis of Breast Cancer.

At what age - and how often - to get a Mammogram

(Recommendations depend on your personal risk factors. See below.)

The recommended age to begin getting mammograms is between 40 and 44.

Annual Mammograms are recommended for women ages 45 - 54.

Starting at age 55, women should get Mammograms annually or every 2 years.

** If you have a family history of Breast Cancer (a first-degree relative, such as a parent, sibling or child), you’ll want to start getting Mammograms approximately 10 years before the age the relative was diagnosed (but not earlier than 25).

Factors that can increase your risk for Breast Cancer

A family history of Breast Cancer (a first-degree relative)
Obesity
Early start of Menstruation, Late Onset of Menopause
Never having had a child
Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy
Taking Birth Control pills
Smoking cigarettes
Drinking alcohol
Women of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, African-American, Caribbean and Hispanic Women have a slightly higher risk of developing Breast Cancer.

Warning Signs

Not all Breast cancers can be found with Mammography. YOU know your body best. If you notice any of the following, call your doctor right away.
A lump, a hard knot, or thickening on the breast area or underarm.
Swelling, warmth, redness, or darkening of the breast; itching or scaling.
Change in the size or shape of the breast.
Skin irritation, puckering or dimpling.
Unexplained discharge.
Pain in the breast that does not go away.

Prevention

Eliminating risk factors under your control can greatly reduce your risk for Breast Cancer.

Maintain a healthy weight - Eat more fruits & vegetables.
Adopt an Active Lifestyle - Exercise regularly for about 30 minutes, 5 times a week.
Do activities you enjoy, whether it’s walking, gardening or cross-fit.
*Quit smoking.
*Limit alcohol intake.
*Get your regular mammogram, according to the recommended schedule.