Skip to content

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

Search

Latest Stories

A Deadly E. coli Outbreak Spread Across 15 States — and the FDA Kept Us in the Dark
File:FDA Sign & Bldg 21 at Entrance (5204602349).jpg - Wikimedia ...
commons.wikimedia.org
Health Topics

A Deadly E. coli Outbreak Spread Across 15 States — and the FDA Kept Us in the Dark

Mind, Body, and Soul: A Holistic Approach to Black Women’s Health
Health Topics

Mind, Body, and Soul: A Holistic Approach to Black Women’s Health

Women

October: A Month of Hope and Awareness for Breast Cancer

October: A Month of Hope and Awareness for Breast Cancer
Photo by Susan G. Komen 3-Day on Unsplash
Beth Frutkin
By Beth FrutkinOct 14, 2024
Beth Frutkin
Founder and driving force behind Divine Health, Beth combines her expertise in marketing and technology to make health information accessible, engaging, and impactful. Her passion for health education stems from personal experiences and a desire to bridge the gap between science and everyday wellness, ensuring readers have the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. Through Divine Health, she curates and shares valuable insights on nutrition, fitness, mental health, medical advancements, and emerging health trends.
See Full Bio

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about this disease and supporting those affected. While breast cancer remains a significant health concern, advancements in research and treatment have led to increased survival rates and improved quality of life for patients.

Understanding Breast Cancer

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast tissue grow abnormally and divide uncontrollably. It can spread to other parts of the body if left untreated. While the exact causes of breast cancer are not fully understood, several risk factors have been identified, including age, family history, genetics, and certain lifestyle choices.

Breakthroughs in Treatment

In recent years, significant strides have been made in the field of breast cancer research and treatment. Some notable advancements include:

  • Targeted Therapies: These treatments focus on specific molecular changes within cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues. Drugs that target HER2-positive breast cancer, for example, have significantly improved outcomes for patients.
  • Immunotherapy: This approach harnesses the body's immune system to fight cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs have shown promising results in treating certain types of breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer.
  • Personalized Medicine: Advances in genetic testing and molecular profiling allow for more personalized treatment plans, tailoring therapy to the specific characteristics of a patient's tumor.
  • Minimally Invasive Surgery: Techniques such as lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy have become less invasive, reducing recovery time and improving patient outcomes.

Reasons to Have Hope

Despite the challenges posed by breast cancer, there is ample reason to be hopeful. The following factors contribute to a positive outlook:

  • Increased Survival Rates: Early detection and improved treatments have led to a significant increase in survival rates for breast cancer patients.
  • Improved Quality of Life: Advancements in treatment have also resulted in better quality of life for survivors, allowing them to live more fulfilling lives.
  • Ongoing Research: Researchers continue to make progress in understanding the causes and developing new treatments for breast cancer.
  • Support Networks: A strong support network, including family, friends, and support groups, can play a crucial role in helping patients cope with the challenges of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection, prevention, and support for those affected by this disease. While there is still much work to be done, the ongoing advancements in research and treatment offer hope for a future where breast cancer is a more treatable and ultimately preventable disease.

Citations:

Recent

Dr. Nathalie Johnson Honored with the Impact Award at NCoBC 2025
Conditions & Symptoms

Dr. Nathalie Johnson Honored with the Impact Award at NCoBC 2025

Is It Just Stress or Something More? Understanding Hormonal Imbalances
Research

Is It Just Stress or Something More? Understanding Hormonal Imbalances

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Men

April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

Shining a Light on Oral Cancer: April Marks Awareness Month with a Focus on Prevention and Early Detection
Health Awareness Month Calendar

Shining a Light on Oral Cancer: April Marks Awareness Month with a Focus on Prevention and Early Detection

More Stories

Is It Just Stress or Something More? Understanding Hormonal Imbalances

Is It Just Stress or Something More? Understanding Hormonal Imbalances

In our modern day, many people ignore stress as part of the everyday normal. Severe feelings of being overwhelmed by work deadlines, financial crises, personal responsibilities, etc can cause numerous emotional and physical problems. If the problems of chronic fatigue, mood swings, weight fluctuations, or even irregular periods continue despite the implementation of stress management systems, it is perhaps wise to consider the possibility of a hormonal imbalance.

A person's hormonal health is very central to their health. The body relies on a network of glands called the endocrine system designed to produce and regulate hormones, and this system affects nearly every physiological function within a human, their metabolism, their mood, and, even their immune response. If there is some kind of disruption to this balance, the outcomes can go beyond basic stress symptoms. How does one differentiate between stress discomfort and the more sinister internal hormone imbalance? Here, we will answer some important questions concerning stress discomfort, and hormonal health.

Keep ReadingShow less
keep reading
Black Maternal Health Week: Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Care
Photo by Shelly Shell on Unsplash

Black Maternal Health Week: Addressing Racial Disparities in Maternal Care

Black Maternal Health Week (BMHW), observed annually from April 11-17, is a national campaign founded by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance in 2018. It raises awareness about the disproportionate maternal health challenges faced by Black women in the United States and advocates for systemic change in maternal healthcare (Black Mamas Matter Alliance, 2018). Addressing Black maternal health is crucial for achieving health equity, improving overall public health outcomes, and ensuring that all women have access to safe, respectful, and high-quality maternal care. It requires a multifaceted approach involving policy changes, healthcare system reforms, and efforts to combat racism and discrimination in medical settings.

The Urgency of Black Maternal Health

The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, and Black women are disproportionately affected. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women (CDC, 2022). Structural racism, implicit bias in healthcare, and limited access to quality medical services contribute to these disparities.

Keep ReadingShow less
keep reading
From Shock to Strength: Thandi Montgomery’s Mission to Empower Young Women After Breast Cancer

Throughout her battle with breast cancer, Thandi Montgomery received unwavering support from her husband, Josh, and their entire family, ensuring she never faced the journey alone.

From Shock to Strength: Thandi Montgomery’s Mission to Empower Young Women After Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is often perceived as a disease affecting older women, but for young women, the diagnosis can be especially shocking and life-altering. Thandi Montgomery was just 38 years old when she received the news that changed her life forever—she had stage 1 breast cancer.

“I thought I was doing everything right—eating healthy, exercising, and breastfeeding my children. When I first heard the words ‘breast cancer,’ it didn’t feel real. Even though the doctor was explaining what was happening, I couldn’t understand how or why this was happening to me at 38 years old,” Montgomery recalls.

Keep ReadingShow less
keep reading Thandi Montgomery’s Mission to Empower Young Women After Breast Cancer
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Should Be Every Month
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Cervical Cancer Awareness Month Should Be Every Month

This article is dedicate in loving memory to my best friend Tonina O'Brien, who courageously fought cervical cancer for 2 years. You can read more about our journey in my story about being a caregiver.

January is cervical cancer awareness month, but it shouldn't stop there. When we think of cancer that primarily targets women, we think of breast cancer, however, there are numerous gynecological cancers that don't get the same amount of attention and research. Cervical cancer, which is a type of cancer in the lower part of the uterus connecting to the vagina. One of the top causes of cervical cancer is persistent infection with high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV), a common sexually transmitted infection At one point, cervical cancer was the most common cancer deaths amongst women. Through years of research it was found with proper screening and prevention methods numbers have started to level out. When my best friend Nina found out she had cervical cancer I realized how common, yet unknown this form of cancer really was.

Keep ReadingShow less
keep reading January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
6 Simple Steps Women Can Take to Lower Heart Disease Risk—No Pills Needed

6 Simple Steps Women Can Take to Lower Heart Disease Risk—No Pills Needed

Scope of the problem

Heart disease is largely preventable, yet, it remains the number 1 cause of death in women in the United States, claiming the lives of 1 in 3 women, more than breast cancer (1 in 25 to 30 women die of breast cancer) and more than all cancers combined. Unfortunately, these statistics haven’t changed much over time. Despite all the sophisticated advances in cardiovascular care, women under 65 years old are twice as likely as their male counterparts to die following a heart attack.

Keep ReadingShow less
keep reading Women's Heart Disease
×