3 Ways to Think Pink

Black and orange may not be the only colors you associate with October. Chances are you’ll also see friends, family and co-workers donning pink ribbons for breast cancer awareness this month.

Though we usually associate pink with women, it’s important to know that breast cancer affects people of all genders. In America, 264,000 women and 2,400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer annually.

To make sure you “think pink,” here are three ways to take care of yourself.

Know the Risks

Those at higher risk include people who are or were:

• Diagnosed with the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic mutation.
• Exposed to diethylstilbestrol—a form of estrogen prescribed to pregnant women between 1940 and 1971.
• Exposed to hormones for longer periods, such as those who started menstruating before age 12 or went through menopause after 55.
• Older than 50.
• Overweight or have obesity.
• Pregnant after age 30, did not breastfeed or never had a full-term pregnancy.
• Previous breast cancer survivors or have a family history of it.
• Radiation therapy patients before age 30.
• Transgender men, as excess testosterone can also be converted to estrogen in the body.
• Transgender or taken hormone therapy, specifically estrogen, for five or more years.

Schedule Screenings

Breast cancer screenings can catch signs of cancer early on—when it’s most treatable. Early detection means cancers are likely smaller, are less likely to spread, and can reduce the chances you will need aggressive treatments like a mastectomy or chemotherapy. You’re also more likely to go into remission.

It’s recommended that women 40 to 44 talk to their healthcare provider about risks and benefits before deciding whether they want to be screened annually. Risks include patient anxiety over false-positive test results, additional treatment for benign biopsies, over-diagnosis and over-treatment. Women 45 to 54 should be screened annually, while those 55 and older should talk to their doctor about whether they should be screened annually or every other year.

While mammograms, which are low-dose x-rays, are generally the way patients are screened for breast cancer, people who have undergone breast reductions or other chest reconstructive surgeries where there are remnants of breast tissue (i.e., not a mastectomy) may need other forms of screening, such as MRIs or ultrasounds.

Watch for Changes

If you notice changes in your breasts between scheduled screenings, notify your doctor immediately. This includes lumps, hard knots, thickening, swelling, dimpling or puckering of breast tissue. You might also notice darkening or reddening of breast tissue, change in size or shape of the breast, new pain in one spot that doesn’t go away, itchy rashes around the nipple or nipple discharge.

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