Breast Cancer Awareness: Your Next Mammogram Could Save Your Life

Breast cancer is a fight no one wants to face, but here’s the hopeful truth: it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Today, thanks to early detection and better screenings, breast cancer is more treatable than ever. The key is listening to your doctor, keeping up with your screenings, catching it early, and being proactive about your health.

If you’re like me, every year when you go for your mammogram, you dread it and wonder if it’s worth all the bother. The doctor may remind you that you have dense breast tissue and a history of cysts which makes it even more uncomfortable, yet you continue to go religiously for these screenings, because there is also a history of breast and ovarian cancer in your family. Sometimes you may facetiously ask yourself, why am I so lucky? The truth is, it’s not about luck—it’s about vigilance.

One day, you may hear the words, “you have breast cancer.” The saving grace? It was caught early and it’s non-invasive. While treatment might include two lumpectomies, radiation, and result in some lingering side effects such as lymphedema, it could have been so much worse. It was a blessing, because it was found so early. There may be others such as loved ones, friends and colleagues who go on to endure invasive breast cancer, mastectomies, chemotherapy, and tough recoveries. But you know what? They survived, too.

That’s why I can’t say this enough: early detection matters.

The Numbers You Need to Know

Breast cancer touches nearly every family in some way. 1 in 8 American women—about 13%—will hear the words “you have invasive breast cancer” in their lifetime. That’s one person diagnosed with this disease every two minutes. It’s the most common cancer among women after skin cancer.

But here’s the good news: when breast cancer is caught early, the outlook is excellent. The five-year survival rate for localized breast cancer is nearly 100%. And thanks to better screening and treatments, the breast cancer death rate has dropped by roughly 40% since 1990. That’s real progress, and it means more families keeping their grandmothers, mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters around after the battle. 

Who’s Most at Risk?

While breast cancer can affect anyone, including men, there are some factors that increase risk:

• Age: Most diagnoses happen around age 62, although younger women are not immune.

• Family history and lifestyle: Having children later, carrying extra weight, or not having children at all can slightly raise your risk.

• Race and ethnicity: Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than any other groups, often due to more aggressive cancers and later diagnoses. Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska Native women also face higher risks of late-stage diagnoses compared to White, Asian, or Pacific Islander women.

These realities remind us that breast cancer awareness isn’t one-size-fits-all. Every community deserves education, access, and support.

October: A Month More Than Just About the Pink  

October means more than crisp mornings, pumpkin spice, and football games—it is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Since 1985, October has been dedicated to reminding women (and men) to get checked, talk to their doctors, and take their breast health seriously. 

It’s not about scare tactics—it’s about giving yourself peace of mind. Scheduling that mammogram, MRI, or biopsy (if your doctor recommends it) is an act of self-care. It’s saying, my health matters, my future matters.

Survivors Are Proof

If you need a reason to feel hopeful, here it is: there are over 4 million breast cancer survivors living in the U.S. today. Four million stories of strength, resilience, and healing. Four million people who faced breast cancer came out the other side.

That’s what awareness creates—more survivors.

Your Gentle Reminder

So, here’s my ask: make the appointment. Don’t put it off. If your doctor has given you a script for a mammogram or another test, go get it done. Encourage your sister, mother, or best friend to do the same. Ask questions. Be proactive.

Your peace of mind is worth it. And if something is found, catching it early could save your life.

My next mammogram is already on the calendar. Is yours? If not, do yourself a favor and schedule your first ever or annual mammogram today. 

Because breast cancer is treatable. Awareness saves lives. And with early detection, survival isn’t just possible—it’s likely.

References:

American Cancer Society: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer.html

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the U.S. except for skin cancers.

• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. 

  • Lung cancer kills more.

  • The chance to die from breast cancer is about 1 in 43 or 2.3%.

  • Death rates have been decreasing since 1989 believed to be the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments. 

• Approximately 30% of all female cancers or 1 in 3 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, each year.

• Breast cancer mainly occurs in middle to older-aged women with the median age at the time of diagnosis of 62. 

• Half of women who develop breast cancer are younger when diagnosed with a very small number diagnosed younger than 45. 

• The average risk of women in the U.S. developing invasive breast cancer sometime in life is about 13% which means there is a 1 in 8 chance or 7 in 8 chances to never have this disease. 

• Incidence rates have increased by 1% per year with the rise thought to be due to factors of having excess body weight, having a first child after age 30 or not having children at all.  

• Variances in breast cancer can be seen in racial and ethnic groups:

  • Black women have the highest death rate from breast cancer. Black women have a higher risk of triple-negative breast cancer.

  • White, Asian and Pacific Islander women are more likely to be diagnosed with localized breast cancer than Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native. 

  • Asian and Pacific Islander women have the lowest death rate from breast cancer. 

• There are 4 million breast cancer survivors in the US including women still being treated or who have completed treatment. 

Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/features/breast-cancer.html

• There are different symptoms of breast cancer or no symptoms at all.

  • Any change in the size or shape of the breast.

  • Pain in any area of the breast.

  • Nipple discharge other than breast milk and/or including blood. 

  • New lump in breast or underarm.

• Men also get breast cancer. About 1 in every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the US is found in a man. 

Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center: https://cancer.iu.edu/community/race-to-beat-cancer/breast-cancer.html

3. Deaths from breast cancer have decreased by almost 40% since 1990, largely due to mammography and early detection. 

4. Treatment options have improved significantly; however, early detection is still crucial to giving yourself every chance for a full recovery.  

5. Mammograms are uncomfortable, but this is only temporary. It’s worth it to detect cancer earlier rather than having to deal with a more advanced case. 

6. For those diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer, the survival rate is the same as someone who has never had breast cancer which is why early detection is so important. 

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-conditions/breast-cancer

• Lower your risk for Breast Cancer by taking care of your health:

  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

  • Limit intake of sugar and fat when you eat and drink.

  • Do not smoke or use tobacco products.

  • Stay active and exercise regularly.

  • Protect yourself from the sun and do not use tanning beds.

  • Get regular check-ups with your healthcare provider.

• What screening tests for breast cancer?

  • Clinical breast exam.

  • Mammogram.

  • Breast MRI.

  • Breast Ultrasound.

Susan G. Komen ®: https://www.komen.org/about-komen/our-impact/breast-cancer/breast-cancer-awareness-month/

• For four decades now, the U.S. has recognized October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 

  • It is a time to educate everyone about breast cancer and the importance of early detection and access to treatment and care. 

• 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime which means one person every 2 minutes in the U.S. 

• Most common risk factors: being born a female and getting older.  

• In 2022, it was estimated that nearly 44,000 people in the U.S. died from breast cancer. 

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Ellen R. Oakes has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and communications, working across industries including healthcare, senior living, insurance, banking and automotive. A proud Hoosier, she eventually made her way back home to Indiana after career stops in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Florida. Known for her optimism, Ellen loves working with mission-driven teams and helping ideas take shape in ways that make a real difference. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, theater and art museums, and spending as much time as possible at the beach taking long walks and hunting for shells.

Summit Managed Solutions is a management consulting and professional services firm that partners with healthcare organizations across the private, public, and social sectors to create value. By providing comprehensive solution management and inclusive business operation services, Summit helps deliver specific, transformative outcomes. With consulting and managed service offerings, Summit helps partners overcome the critical challenges associated with people, process, and technology, while providing partners with flexibility, reliability, and innovation that will propel growth.