PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Collective Prevention Service (CPS) is encouraging women to become familiar with their breast health, understand their individual risk factors, recognize possible warning signs, and seek timely medical attention when they notice unusual changes.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month forms part of the CPS annual calendar of health observances and provides an opportunity to increase public awareness about one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide.
The 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month theme is: “Every story is unique, every journey matters.”
The theme recognizes that behind every breast cancer diagnosis is a person, a family and an individual journey. Experiences can differ depending on diagnosis, treatment, available support and access to healthcare. The theme also reinforces the importance of ensuring that persons affected by breast cancer are treated with dignity and receive the support and quality care they need.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally. Approximately 2.4 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide in 2024, while approximately 694,000 women died from the disease.
Breast cancer can occur in women of any age after puberty, although the risk increases with age. While certain factors can increase a person's risk, approximately 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in women who have no specific risk factors other than being female and increasing age.
CPS therefore emphasizes that women should not assume they are at low risk simply because there is no known history of breast cancer in their family.
Certain factors are associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. These include increasing age, obesity, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, family history of breast cancer, previous radiation exposure, certain reproductive factors and some forms of postmenopausal hormone therapy.
CPS encourages women to discuss their individual risk factors with their healthcare provider and seek professional advice regarding appropriate breast cancer screening based on their age, medical history and personal risk.
Know What is Normal for You
Breast health awareness is an important component of early detection. Women are encouraged to become familiar with the normal appearance and feel of their breasts, so they are better positioned to recognize changes.
Possible signs and symptoms of breast cancer can include a new lump or thickening in the breast; a change in the size, shape or appearance of the breast; dimpling, redness, pitting or other changes to the skin; changes in the appearance of the nipple or surrounding area; and abnormal or bloody discharge from the nipple.
CPS stresses that discovering a breast lump does not automatically mean that a person has cancer, as many breast lumps are not cancerous. However, any new or unusual breast change should be evaluated by a healthcare professional rather than ignored.
Women should also not wait for pain before seeking medical attention. A breast lump associated with cancer may be painless, particularly during the early stages.
Early Detection and Timely Care Can Save Lives
Early detection remains one of the most important tools in reducing deaths from breast cancer.
When breast cancer is identified at an earlier stage and appropriate treatment begins promptly, treatment is generally more effective and outcomes can be significantly improved.
CPS therefore encourages women not to postpone seeking medical advice because of fear, uncertainty or embarrassment when they notice an unusual breast change.
Women should speak with their healthcare provider about when breast cancer screening, including mammography, may be appropriate for them. Screening recommendations can vary depending on age, individual risk factors, family history and medical history.
Early detection must also be followed by timely diagnosis and access to appropriate treatment. Awareness alone is not enough; women who discover a suspicious change must be able to move through the healthcare system from evaluation and diagnosis to treatment without unnecessary delays.
Know your risk. Know the signs. Do not ignore changes. Seek medical advice early. Every story is unique, and every journey matters.