Breast Cancer Awareness Month
What is Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an international health campaign that’s held every October. The month aims to promote screening and prevention of the disease, which affects 2.3 million women worldwide. Known best for its pink theme colour, the month features a number of campaigns and programs — conducted by groups ranging from breast cancer advocacy organisations to local community organisations to major retailers — aimed at:
- supporting people diagnosed with breast cancer, including those with metastatic breast cancer, which spreads beyond the breasts to other parts of the body.
- educating people about breast cancer risk factors – checking your breasts for any unusual changes can help discover breast cancer early. It’s important to recognise when something’s not right.
- encouraging women to go for regular breast cancer screening starting at age 40 or earlier, depending on personal breast cancer risk
- Remember, Breast Cancer Awareness Month isn’t just about pink ribbons; it’s about action, support, and hope. So let’s stand together and work toward a future where fewer people hear the words “you have breast cancer.” 🎀
#breastcancerawarenessmonth
Key messages
- Breast screening saves lives as cancers can be diagnosed and treated earlier than they would have been without screening, often before you can even see or feel any changes to your breasts yourself. All women aged from 50 up to their 71st birthday are invited for free NHS breast screening.
- It’s understandable some women are anxious about attending their breast screening appointment and your mammographer will do everything she can to make the experience as comfortable as possible for you.
- If you have been invited for breast screening but missed or did not book an appointment you can still contact your local NHS breast screening service to arrange one, even if you were invited weeks, months or years ago.
- Breast screening services are more accessible than ever. As well as hospitals, mobile screening vans are available in convenient community locations, such as supermarket car parks.
- Women of all ages should be ‘breast aware’. Get to know how your breasts normally look, you will be more likely to spot any changes that might be signs of breast cancer. If you are concerned, do not hesitate to contact your GP practice.
It is important that you continue to look at and check your breasts regularly, even if you have just had a mammogram
| Asset | Caption/information | URL |
| Checking your breasts or chest regularly helps you learn what looks and feels normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes that could be a sign of a condition such as breast cancer. For advice, visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/how-to-check-your-breasts-or-chest/ | CommsLink: Checking your breasts – CommsLink – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform V&S workspace: Checking Your Breasts – Vaccinations and Screening – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform | |
| When diagnosed at an early stage, 98% of women survive their breast cancer for 5-years or more. Regular breast screening can find breast cancer before you notice any symptoms. If you’ve been invited but missed or did not book your appointment, arrange one here: http://nhs.uk/service-search/other-health-services/breast-screening-services | CommsLink: Breast screening saves lives – CommsLink – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform V&S workspace: Breast Screening Saves Lives – Vaccinations and Screening – FutureNHS Collaboration Platform |