Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) takes place every October and aims to shine a light on the devastating impact breast cancer has on thousands of Australians each day.
Did you know that over 20,000 Australians will be diagnosed with the disease this year – that’s 57 Australians each day!
As the second most-commonly diagnosed cancer, while it is more prevalent amongst females (1 in 7), males can also receive a breast cancer diagnosis (1 in 550).
The disease develops when cells within the breast grow abnormally and multiply to form a tumour. Fortunately, thanks to medical research, breast cancer that is contained within the breast is now largely treatable.
Since the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) started funding research in 1994, the death rates from breast cancer in Australia has reduced by over 40%, thanks in large part to research in prevention, early detection and new and improved breast cancer treatments.