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This year marks the 40th anniversary of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which was co-created by the ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï (ACS) in 1985. It began as a week-long campaign to educate women about screening and routine mammograms. Today, 40 years later, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has grown into a nationwide movement that continues to bring awareness to the disease.

But awareness alone isn¡¯t enough. In this milestone year, ACS encourages everyone to do more this October and turn awareness into action.?

A Legacy of Progress

According to ACS's ?Cancer Facts & Figures 2025, about 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in their lifetime, and about 1 in 43 women will die from it.?

Still, there has been steady progress since Breast Cancer Awareness Month started in 1985. Over the past 40+ years, research supported, in part, by ACS has led to major advances, including:

• 1980s¨C1990s: Discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes; FDA approval of Herceptin?

• 2000s: Identification of breast cancer stem cells and genomic testing to guide treatment decisions

• 2010s: Approval of immunotherapy to treat triple-negative and HER2+ breast cancers?

• 2020s: Promising developments in breast cancer vaccines and newer technology and tests that help improve early detection

Currently, there are more than 4 million people living with breast cancer in the U.S. ACS researchers expect that number to reach 5.3 million by 2035.?

A Significant Milestone

According to ACS chief patient officer, Dr. Arif Kamal, 40 has a special significance.?

¡°Breast cancer mortality is down more than 40%, and 40 is when women should start having a conversation with their doctor about getting a mammogram,¡± he said.

The ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï recommends that women get regular screening with mammography for the early detection of breast cancer. For women at average risk for breast cancer, the ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï recommends:?

• Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.

• Women 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year.?

• Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

• All women should understand what to expect when getting a mammogram for breast cancer screening ¨C what the test can and cannot do.?

• All women should know how their breasts normally look and feel, and report any changes to a doctor.

¡°Due in part to the work of the ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï, 3 in 4 women are now up to date on screening, which is the greatest reason mortality has reduced,¡± Kamal said. ¡°But 1 in 4 are not up to date, and we need to close that gap.¡±

Every Action Counts?

This October, the ºÚÁÏÍø±¬³Ô¹Ï invites everyone to do more than wear pink, go beyond ribbons and awareness, and take action. Because every action counts.

Learn more by visiting cancer.org/BreastCancerAction.?

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