October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society estimates that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Approximately 310,720 women will be diagnosed with an invasive breast cancer in 2024, and approximately 2,800 men will be diagnosed with the same, although less common.

While there is no single magic solution to prevent breast cancer, some lifestyle practices, early diagnosis and prompt treatment can help reduce the development or spread of this disease.

Look at your lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly is beneficial for you, not cancer. Eat a balanced diet, limit alcohol and avoid smoking. Find healthy ways to reduce stress and include moderate to vigorous physical activity in your exercise routine.

Practice breast self-awareness. In the past, it was recommended to perform breast self-examination every month. Most experts now recommend breast self-awareness. Knowing what is normal for your breasts will help you notice subtle changes in their appearance or feel.

Get scanned. A clinical breast exam is part of a woman’s annual health visit, which includes age-related health discussions, physical exams, screenings, immunizations, and topics such as hygiene, nutrition, exercise, sexual health, and domestic violence. Your doctor will usually recommend a repeat mammogram every 1 to 2 years, starting at age 40. Talk to your care provider about which scans are best for you. If you have a family history of cancer, breast MRI or more frequent screening may be recommended.

Understand your treatment options. If you are diagnosed with cancer, learn about treatment options. The two main treatments for breast cancer are local and systemic treatments. Local treatments, such as surgery and radiation, remove, destroy or control cancer cells in one area of ​​the body. Systemic treatments destroy or control cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy and immunotherapy are systemic treatments. The treatments are often used together, often in conjunction with breast surgery.

Explore your surgical options. Surgery can remove cancerous cells, prevent cancer from spreading, or reduce the risk of cancer coming back. Common breast cancer surgeries are mastectomy and breast reconstruction. Mastectomy removes part or all of the breast. In some cases, the surgeon may remove the lymph nodes in the armpit. Later

If cancer is removed, surgery may be performed to reconstruct the breast. The plastic surgeon can do this either with the patient’s own tissue or with an implant.

Breast cancer is not just a diagnosis, it is a journey. If you have questions, talk to your care provider. Discuss breast cancer prevention strategies and treatment and surgical options if necessary.

Stephen Osterberg, MD provides surgical care to patients of all ages. He performs a wide variety of general surgery procedures. For more information, visit BartonHealth.org or call 530.543.5691.