During the month of October, millions of people all over the world take part in “celebrating” Breast Cancer Awareness month. This was established in 1985 in order to set up a chance for communities to support the 2 million women who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.

In addition, multiple companies spend their time in October to come together and raise money for breast cancer research. A widely known fundraiser is Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. This movement has been taking place for three decades straight. In hopes to raise money for the American Cancer Society, this group of walks has become known as the “nation’s largest and most impactful breast cancer movement” (American Cancer Society).There are many more fundraisers that are open to helping and supporting communities that anyone can take part in. By coming together, anyone can help grow awareness and advancements in breast cancer research. When participating in these programs, wearing pink is encouraged to send a strong message saying you support breast cancer awareness.

Ultimately, breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the world for women, and famously known to be portrayed with a pink ribbon. However, there are chances of men being diagnosed with breast cancer which means everyone is susceptible. Both genders start to have the same symptoms in their body when it comes to the diagnosis. What follows is an interview a Family Nurse Practitioner, Debra Schiebel who provides insights on the process of diagnosing breast cancer with advice for all, including teenagers.

“How do you tell someone that they have breast cancer?“

“Usually they have a mammogram and then they get called back for a repeat, depending on what the repeat says they have to have a biopsy… the person who usually does the biopsy has to call them and tell them.”

“What’s the screening process for men? Is it different and if so how do you find out they have breast cancer?”

“There is no screening process for men…It’s much easier for men because they don’t have as much breast tissue, so usually when I’ve seen men be diagnosed it’s because they’ve felt a lump in their chest area; that’s how we usually find it for men.”

“Do you recommend genetic testing and if so at what age?”

“The question is, what would you do with that information, if you had it? If you were positive for a breast cancer gene you would have to decide if you wanted to have a mastectomy and hysterectomy because the genes that affect breast cancer also affect ovarian cancer. What I tell people is, if you have a very strong family history, it‘s probably a good idea if you were going to have surgery to remove the organs that would be affected. But if you wouldn’t then do you really wanna know? Is it going to change anything for you?”

“What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer?”

“What you feel is a lump, sometimes you don’t really feel a lump in the breast but if it’s just beginning sometimes you’ll feel an enlarged lymph node in the armpit…or its called ‘orange peel skin’, where the skin changes to a texture that feels like an orange peel over the lump.”

“Is early detection crucial?”

“It’s very crucial because the longer it takes for you to find it, the more likely it is to metastasize or to move to other areas of the body, and that’s when it becomes a much more difficult thing to treat.”

Everyone knows the term ‘breast cancer’, but do they know the extent of it? When being diagnosed you have to be fully aware of what type of cancer you are dealing with. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is what is called, carcinomas. This means that the breast cancer is a tumor that lines the tissues. If one has adenocarcinoma breast cancer, it means that the cancer is located in the lobules or ducts of one’s body. Other than different types of breast cancer, there are also terms for the growth of the cancer throughout the body. Doctors often use the term, “situ” for pre-cancer that is forming in the ducts and not the tissues. If one has invasive cancer, it has already begun to spread around the breast tissue.

It is very important to watch out for signs of breast cancer. Starting at the age of 15 anyone is able to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though there have been cases of young women having breast cancer, mammograms are only open to women starting at the age of 40. If there are any concerns for anyone in their high school years, it is recommended to talk to a parent or nurse in your school for information on the topic. Here is more information from Debra Schiebel, NP.

“For teenagers, is there anything we could be doing to educate ourselves of the risks, symptoms, or healthy habits we should consider that can affect future cancer risks”?

“All the things we tell people in healthy living in general, like not smoking and not drinking alcohol. Honestly nowadays they’re saying that there is no amount of alcohol that is really safe. For women specifically, no more than one alcoholic drink per night. For men, no more than two alcoholic drinks per night. Exercising and knowing your family’s history is really important.”

There are multiple factors that go into the causes and effects of breast cancer for women and men alike. This is why it is very important to know what breast cancer is and how to deal with it. During breast cancer checks, make sure you focus on the details that could contribute to the symptoms of the cancer.

If you want to contribute more in the awareness and fundraising for cancer, talk to local organizations, online platforms, or search for any upcoming online events. If there is an organization that is holding a walk for breast cancer, you can still contribute to the cause by donating money to research platforms if you can not join the walk, including: American Cancer Society, National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF), and Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).