Get in the Pink this October

Breast cancer is something all women (and men) have to deal with – be it because they are unfortunate enough to have it, know someone who has it or are simply concerned that they may have to face it in the future. But do we know our facts?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month when the facts are put straight and any myths busted:

So here are the facts:

• The biggest risk factor, after gender, is age. The older you are, the higher the risk; 80% of breast cancer cases occur in women over the age of 50
  
• More people are being diagnosed with breast cancer, but survival rates are improving. This is probably due to improved treatment and earlier detection through increased breast awareness and the NHS screening service
  
• Breast cancer also affects men, but it is rare. Around 300 men are diagnosed each year

And here are the stats:

• Around 46,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer each year - that’s one person every 12 minutes
  
• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women under 35 - more than 1,500 women aged 35-39 are diagnosed annually
  
• Approximately 12,400 people die from breast cancer in the UK every year
  
• Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death for women in the UK (lung cancer is the biggest)

And here’s the fiction:

• “Breast cancer is mainly a hereditary disease”
  Breast cancer can run in families, but fewer than 10% of cases are as a result of family history
  
• “Pregnancy increases the risk of breast cancer”
  Wrong. In fact, the more children a woman has, the lower her risk of getting breast cancer
  
• “Deodorants cause breast cancer”
  There is no hard evidence to prove or disprove this myth, which has caused unnecessary distress for a lot of women
  

Awareness of breast cancer is the key hence why we all go pink in October. Why not do your bit and go pink too? The official In the Pink day is Friday 24 October, but any day during Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect day for you to hold a pink party.

You can get ideas on www.breastcancercare.org.uk/inthepink

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