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Breast Cancer Awareness

by rt staff writer
3 min read

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Cancer Council is encouraging people to do their bit by Pink Fundraising for breast cancer. This might be dying your hair pink, exercising in pink and generally raising awareness about breast cancer.

Despite the focus of October on breast cancer, with such a high mortality rate, this is something that should be on women’s radar all year round.

For women between the ages of 50-74, the Government provides free breast screening exams every two years. Women in this age group are notified automatically by mail to make an appointment. Women aged 40-49 and those aged over 74 can also be screened free of charge, however they are not sent invitation letters.

Early detection and appropriate treatment can significantly improve breast cancer survival. Regular mammograms can reduce your risk of breast cancer death by 25%. The benefit is highest for women aged 50 to 69.

And it’s not just women who get breast cancer. although it is not common, about 167 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Australia*. And about one in 700 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

FACTORS THAT INCREASE YOUR RISK

Excess Weight

Overweight and obese women have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer compared to women who maintain a healthy weight, especially after menopause, when the ovaries stop producing oestrogen. Being overweight also can increase the risk of the breast cancer coming back (recurrence) in women who have had the disease.

Alcohol

A UK study of more than 28,000 women showed that drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing breast cancer. Alcohol can limit your liver’s ability to control the levels of oestrogen in your blood, which can increase your risk. It may also increase your risk by damaging DNA in cells.

Smoking

The link between smoking and breast cancer is unclear, but toxins from cigarettes have been found in breast cells. As smoking is a major cause of heart disease, lung cancer and many other cancers, not smoking is always a smart health choice.

On the plus side, the prestigious Mayo Clinic in the US reports that women who eat a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil and mixed nuts might have a reduced risk of breast cancer.

In another positive sign, since the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) in Australia started funding in 1994, the five-year survival rates have improved from 76% to 91%.

Free mammograms for women aged 40 and over

Here’s how to book your free breast screening.

NSW Call 13 20 50 to book.

VICTORIA, book online: https://www.breastscreen.org.au/

QUEENSLAND book online: https://www.breastscreen.qld.gov.au/make-or-change-a-breastscreen-appointment.asp

Western Australia, call 13 20 50, or book online: https://www.breastscreen.health.wa.gov.au/Breast-screening/Making-an-appointment/Book-Online

South Australia call BreastScreen SA on 13 20 50

*National Breast Cancer Foundation Male Breast Cancer - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment | NBCF