- Author: Melanie Dell’Oro
69,700 women* and 750 men*. This is how many people are newly diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Breast cancer is therefore the most common cancer among women*. While women* aged 60 and over are most frequently affected, breast cancer is also diagnosed in increasingly younger women.
Why do we participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. Although there are various risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, type 2 diabetes, or a genetic predisposition, very often it cannot be explained why a woman develops breast cancer. The rule is: the earlier it is detected, the better the chances of cure and survival, with the 10-year survival rate at 82%. Early detection is therefore essential.
80% of women discovered the changes themselves
More than a third of women diagnosed with cancer* discovered the cancerous changes in their breast and thus the cancer themselves by palpation. That is why it is so important that you thoroughly and carefully examine your own breast once a month. This works best in the first half of the cycle, about 1 week after the onset of menstruation. See it as a small act of self-love and take the time. And: Spread the word, remind your friends* as well.
Breast examination - This is important:
- Regularity: You should examine your breast once a month.
- Sensitivity: Use your fingertips to examine.
- Visual inspection: Are there any external changes to the breast (swelling, redness, deformities, change in size)?
If you are unsure, you can also take a course in which you will be taught exactly how to properly examine your breast. The costs for these MammaCare courses are even partially covered by health insurance.
Once a year, your breasts can also be examined by a female doctor or male doctor as part of early diagnostics. So remember your annual appointments.
And do you already know Discovering Hands? Discovering Hands is an organization that trains visually impaired and blind women in the medical-tactile examination of the breast and surrounding glands. Due to their visual impairments, these women have a superior sense of touch, which allows them to detect changes in the breast tissue early on. You have to pay for this examination yourself; you can find all the information and practices at https://www.discovering-hands.de
Want more?
Here you will find everything about causes, diagnostics, and treatment options:
- A lot of detailed information for anyone who wants to know exactly is available from the German Cancer Research Center: https://www.krebshilfe.de/informieren/ueber-krebs/krebsarten/brustkrebs/
- From the German Cancer Society: https://www.krebsgesellschaft.de/basis-informationen-krebs/krebsarten/brustkrebs.html
If you would like telephone advice, you can get it free of charge from Infonetz Krebs from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, at 0800/80708877.)
Book tip: I would like to recommend a wonderfully honest book on the topic of breast cancer. “In My Heart There Is a Spear” by Anja Caspary tells very freely and bluntly what it is like to suddenly be counted as “someone with cancer.”
Breast cancer is now being diagnosed in increasingly younger women, even below the average age of 60. Just like Kirsten. How old she was when she received her diagnosis and what all came to her afterwards, she tells you in our next blog post.
Until then: always remember to examine your breasts regularly!