October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and October 13th is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. These two events are held each year to raise awareness of the threat that breast cancers present to women's health and to highlight the prevention and treatments for these diseases.
According to the CDC, every year, approximately 255,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer across the United States. Men can also develop breast cancer although it is uncommon. Like most cancers, when detected and treated early, the chances of a full remission are significantly increased. The reason for these two days is to raise awareness of the ways to prevent, screen for and treat breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is the month set aside each year to help raise awareness of the screening tests and treatments available for breast cancer. Sponsored by the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the Susan G Komen Institute, among others, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to raise awareness of the prevalence of breast cancer and to encourage people to take control of their own health by doing breast self-examinations and getting screenings for the disease.
The theme of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this year is 'RISE', or Rally In Screening Everyone. The hope is that by encouraging all women to be screened regularly for breast cancer, the number of cases that are caught early, when the disease is more treatable, will also rise. It is also hoped that by raising awareness of the progress that has already been made in treating breast cancer, funding will be increased to continue the trend until a cure is found.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
Metastatic breast cancer is cancer that has spread from the breast to other parts of the body. When any cancer has reached this stage, effective treatment is much more difficult. Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day is designed to raise awareness of the dangers of metastatic breast cancer and encourage funding for research to find methods of prevention and a cure for this disease. To commemorate the day, METAVIVOR is hosting #LightUpMBC, a virtual broadcast featuring survivors accounts, musical guests and 115 landmarks lit up in teal, green and pink.
Medications for Breast Cancer
While there is still a long way to go to defeat breast cancer entirely, there are currently many medications, like letrozole and tamoxifen citrate, available that can help you to fight this disease. If you have recently been prescribed a breast cancer medication, or any other prescription medications, and are worried about being able to afford them, rxless can help.
The discount card offered by RxLess will help you save on all your prescriptions. Go to their website and use the search tool to find a pharmacy near you, including Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens, and the discounted price available at each one. Download or print the card for your chosen pharmacy. Take the money saving card with you to show to the pharmacists. That's it. The savings are automatic and significant.
