It is almost certain you know someone with breast cancer. According to BreastCancer.org, about 168,000 women in the U.S. have metastatic breast cancer, which means it started in the breast but has now spread to different parts of the body. Men are also at risk. Approximately 2790 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, and about 530 of those men will die from the disease. 

The message during National Breast Awareness Month is that anyone can develop breast cancer, and the time to check your health status is now. 

Here is why: 

  • A woman in the U.S. today has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer over her lifetime and a 1 in 39 chance of dying from breast cancer. 
  • Nearly 30% of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer later develop metastatic breast cancer. 
  • U.S. men make up 1 of every 100 breast cancer diagnoses in the country. There are about 4 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S., including women receiving breast cancer treatment. 
  • While the percentage of women dying from breast cancer has gone down in recent decades, Black women remain more likely to die from breast cancer than women of any other racial or ethnic group. 

What can I do? 

  • If you know someone who is living with breast cancer or has been affected by the disease, check in with them to ask them how they’re doing. 
  • Schedule your annual mammogram. 
  • Encourage your friends and family to do the same. 
  • Learn more about breast cancer and how it affects people’s lives from Breastcancer.org news, educational content, podcasts, and more. 
  • Join community discussion forums to ask questions or connect with others. Breastcancer.org also hosts multiple virtual meetups each week to support people living with breast cancer and their caregivers. 
  • Donate to support free resources and programming for people affected by breast cancer. 

https://www.breastcancer.org/about-breast-cancer/breast-cancer-awareness-month 

Disclaimer: This is not a medical consultation. It should not replace the instructions to manage your specific medical condition given by your doctor or medical provider. 

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