If you’ve started spotting more pink out and about lately, there’s a reason for that: Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a.k.a. Pink October.

Breast cancer accounts for nearly one in three new cancer diagnoses in women every year, according to the American Cancer Society, and it’s something that about one in eight women will develop. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, after lung cancer.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re working to educate people about actions they can take that may make a difference. Here are seven places to start.

1. Learn your family history. It’s important to know what health conditions, including breast cancer, have impacted people in your biological family because you could face a higher risk for some of those conditions. To get a fuller picture of your family’s health history, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it’s helpful to know if a relative was diagnosed with this kind of cancer before age 50; if two or more relatives on the same side of the family were diagnosed; if a male relative was diagnosed with breast cancer; and whether you have Eastern European or Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. If any of these statements are relevant to your family, the CDC says to share this information with your doctor so they can help you make informed decisions about screening and testing based on your risk.
2. See your doctor regularly. To stay on top of your health, routine check-ups are important. During these appointments, your primary care provider can examine you, keep you up to date on vaccinations, check your blood pressure and perform tests that give more insight into your health, such as measuring your cholesterol and blood glucose levels. They can also discuss your family health history and personal health history and recommend screenings, such as a mammogram, based on guidelines and risks. Ask your doctor how often they recommend seeing you for routine check-ups.
3. Stay up to date on screenings. A mammogram is an X-ray image of the breast that can check for breast cancer. Mammograms are important, in part, because they can potentially detect cancer early, before there are even symptoms, and when it may be easier to treat. According to the CDC, regular mammograms can lower a person’s risk of dying from breast cancer. Guidelines vary, so talk to your doctor about when and how often you should schedule a mammogram.
4. Get familiar with how your breasts feel. By examining your own breasts, you get to know what “normal” feels like to you, and that can help you notice any type of change. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it can be helpful to regularly examine your breasts visually as well as physically. Most people examine their breasts while in the shower, writes the Cleveland Clinic, which says to use the pads of your three middle fingers to press every part of the breast, moving in a circular pattern. While the U.S. guidelines no longer recommend breast self-exams, the Cleveland Clinic recommends performing this kind of assessment monthly. If you do notice a change, be sure to follow up with your primary care provider. And remember, self-exams should not replace visits to the doctor or mammograms.
5. Understand your risk factors. In addition to your family history, there are some other traits beyond your control that may increase your risk for developing breast cancer. According to the CDC, some of those include:

• • Age. The majority of breast cancers are diagnosed after a person turns 50.
  • Genetic mutations. Inherited variants in your DNA, including the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
  • Dense breasts. People whose breast tissue is denser face an increased risk for breast cancer; it can also be more challenging to detect changes in dense breasts on a mammogram.
  •  Menstrual timeline. People who started their menstrual period at an early age and entered menopause at an older age may have an increased risk because of extended hormone exposure.
  • Health history. Those who have already had breast cancer and certain breast diseases may have a higher risk.
  • Radiation treatment. People who have had radiation exposure to the chest or breasts before age 30 may have an elevated risk.
  • Exposure to certain drugs. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was a drug that some pregnant women took between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage; they may face a higher risk, and so may children who were exposed to the drug through their mothers. 

6. Make healthy choices. While there are some risk factors you can’t control, there are also choices you can make that may lower your risk of developing cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Those include the following:

• • Avoid smoking
  • Get regular physical activity
  • Reach and maintain a healthy weight
  • Limit (or avoid) drinking alcohol

7. Help raise awareness about breast cancer and prevention. Since Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985, breast cancer deaths have declined by 44% in the U.S., according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which attributes the drop to an increase in awareness and early detection, along with advances in treatment. This month, you can help raise awareness by sharing your own experiences and encouraging people you know to talk to their doctor about screening. You can look for a community walk or run sponsored by a non-profit or support a fundraiser that starts a conversation around this important topic.

Did you know…

Breast cancer isn’t just one disease. A number of designated days throughout October raise awareness around different types of cancer, including the following:

• October 13: Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
• October 15: Global Lobular Breast Cancer Awareness Day
• October 17-23: Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week

Want to learn more about actions you can take that may lower your risk of cancer? Read about it here.