October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October has been established worldwide as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This global initiative emphasizes the critical importance of prevention, education, and regular screening, as breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women. According to the World Health Organization, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime. However, advances in medical science have significantly improved outcomes: when detected at an early stage, cure rates exceed 90%.
Prevention does not necessarily imply absolute avoidance of the disease but rather focuses on modifiable risk factors and timely detection. Adherence to a balanced diet, regular physical activity, maintenance of a healthy body weight, avoidance of tobacco use, and limited alcohol intake are associated with reduced risk. Breastfeeding has also demonstrated a protective effect. Furthermore, women are encouraged to be familiar with their breast anatomy and promptly report any changes. While breast self-examination cannot substitute mammography, it contributes to greater self-awareness.
Clinical breast examination by a gynecologist or breast specialist on an annual basis, combined with screening mammography beginning at the age of 35—and earlier in women with a strong family history—constitute the cornerstone of early detection. In high-risk patients, breast MRI may also be indicated.
Contemporary management of breast cancer is multidisciplinary and individualized. Treatment modalities may include surgical intervention, radiotherapy, systemic therapies such as chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted biological agents, and more recently immunotherapy, which harnesses the immune system to combat malignant cells. Advances in molecular biology and genetic profiling now enable oncologists to design highly personalized therapeutic regimens, thereby optimizing efficacy and minimizing adverse effects.
The key message remains that breast cancer is no longer an insurmountable disease. Owing to the progress of modern medicine, millions of women worldwide undergo successful treatment and continue their lives with resilience and optimism. Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder that prevention and self-care should arise not from fear, but from a proactive commitment to health and a profound appreciation of life
