According to breastcancer.org., “In 2018 there will be an expected 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed for women in the United States. There will be an estimated 63,960 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer diagnosed this year.”   

Men are also at risk of breast cancer, with about 2,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer expected this year. “October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), a time when young women around the globe get together to stand up for the cause,” reported speakersfornurses.com.

NBCAM is an annual, international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October with the hopes of increasing awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.

This year it will be celebrating its 34th anniversary. Since its establishment, NBCAM has been at the forefront of promoting awareness of breast cancer issues and has evolved along with the national dialogue on breast cancer.

The third Friday of October, each year, is National Mammography Day, first declared by President Bill Clinton in 1993. On this day and throughout the month, men and women are encouraged to make a mammography appointment. Many men and women, including celebrities, have been affected by this devastating cancer.

After Christina Applegate, an acclaimed American comedic actress, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 at age 36, she chose to undergo a bilateral mastectomy after finding out she had the BRCA gene, aka, the “breast cancer gene.”

Luckily for Applegate, her malignant tumor was found via an MRI after her doctor determined that the mammogram wasn’t sufficient enough because of the denseness of her breast. The cancer was caught early enough, so it did not spread to other parts of her body.

Since her surgery, Applegate has voiced her dedication to fight for women’s access to MRIs and genetic testing as guaranteed preventive measures. “I am a 36-year-old person with breast cancer, and not many people know that this happens to women my age or women in their 20s. This is my opportunity now to go out and fight as hard as I can for early detection,” stated Applegate on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.”

Wanda Sykes, who is also an actress and comedian, was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in her left breast in 2011. She opted for a double mastectomy in order to ensure a healthy life in the future. “I had both breasts removed so now I have zero chance of having breast cancer,” said Sykes to Ellen DeGeneres in a 2011 interview.

Although a double mastectomy isn’t a 100 percent safeguard against a recurrence of breast cancer, it does significantly reduce the recurrence of breast cancer. Having both breasts removed will drop the likelihood of catching cancer by 90 percent.

The website popsugar.com stated that “several celebrities have supported the cause, such as Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Miley Cyrus, have taken the stage too, putting on their sneakers for charity walks or partying in pink. There are plenty of famous breast cancer survivors who have also gotten involved. You can get involved, too, whether it’s sharing tips on how to lower breast cancer risks, or by informing yourself and your loved ones about foods to eat to prevent the disease.” Even though October is breast cancer awareness month for men and women, don’t wait until October to do a self-exam or make an appointment with your doctor, stay healthy year-round.