Every October, pink ribbons appear everywhere—from storefronts and social media to our own office here at West Coast Functional.
But Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about much more than wearing pink. It’s an important reminder to pay attention to your body, understand your personal risk factors, stay current with recommended screenings, and make your health a priority…not just this month, but all year long.
Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers among women in the United States. And while no screening or prevention strategy can eliminate risk completely, being informed and proactive can make a meaningful difference.
Know What’s Normal for Your Body
There isn’t one single way that breast cancer presents. That’s why becoming familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel can help you recognize when something has changed.
Changes worth discussing with your healthcare provider may include:
A new lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
Changes in the size or shape of a breast
Dimpling, puckering, redness, or other changes to the skin
Changes involving the nipple, including inversion or discharge
Persistent breast or nipple pain
Swelling involving part or all of the breast
Many breast changes are not cancer, but a new or unusual change deserves attention rather than waiting for your next routine appointment.
Stay Current With Breast Cancer Screening
Breast cancer screening can help identify cancer before symptoms develop.
For women at average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends mammography every two years from ages 40 through 74. Other organizations have somewhat different recommendations, which is one reason screening should be a conversation between you and your healthcare provider.
Your personal screening plan may be different depending on factors such as your family history, previous breast findings, genetic risk, breast density, and other individual considerations.
If you're unsure when your next mammogram is due, ask your primary care or women's health provider.
Understand Your Individual Risk
There is no single cause of breast cancer.
Some risk factors, such as age, genetics, and family history, aren't things you can change. Other factors related to overall health and lifestyle may also influence risk.
Knowing your family medical history is especially important. If breast or ovarian cancer runs in your family, particularly at younger ages or across multiple relatives, talk with your healthcare provider about whether additional risk assessment or genetic counseling may be appropriate.
Being proactive doesn't mean being afraid of your risk. It means having enough information to make informed decisions about your health.
What About Hormones?
Hormones and breast health are understandably a common concern, especially for women considering hormone therapy during perimenopause or menopause.
The relationship between hormones, hormone therapy, and breast cancer risk is complex and individualized. Risk can vary depending on the type of hormone therapy, combination of hormones, duration of use, age, medical history, and other factors.
Hormone therapy should therefore never be viewed as a one-size-fits-all treatment.
At West Coast Functional, we believe hormone optimization should begin with an individualized evaluation and an informed discussion about potential benefits, risks, personal history, and appropriate monitoring.
If you're receiving hormone therapy, it's still important to maintain routine preventive care and age- and risk-appropriate breast cancer screening with the healthcare professionals who manage those services.
Whole-Body Health Still Matters
Breast Cancer Awareness Month also gives us an opportunity to talk about something we emphasize every day at West Coast Functional: your health is interconnected.
Nutrition, physical activity, metabolic health, sleep, hormones, stress, and other aspects of wellness all contribute to the bigger picture of your health.
That doesn't mean living perfectly or believing that every disease can be prevented through lifestyle. It means focusing on the areas of your health you can influence while staying current with evidence-based preventive care.
Small, consistent choices matter.
So do screenings.
So does asking questions.
And so does making the appointment you've been putting off.
Breast Cancer Can Affect Men, Too
Although breast cancer is far more common in women, men can develop breast cancer as well. Because it’s less common, and often not something men think to look for, changes can sometimes be overlooked.
Men should talk with a healthcare provider if they notice a lump or swelling in the breast or underarm, nipple changes or discharge, skin dimpling or irritation, or other new changes in the chest or breast area.
A Little Pink With a Bigger Purpose 🎀
This October, you'll notice a little more pink around West Coast Functional.
For us, it's a reminder of the women and men in our community who have faced breast cancer, the survivors we celebrate, the families affected by the disease, and those whose lives have been lost.
But most importantly, we hope it serves as a reminder to take care of you.
Know your body.
Know your history.
Stay current with your screenings.
Ask questions.
And don't ignore a change because life is busy.
Think Pink. Stay informed. Be proactive about your health. 🎀
This article is for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or recommended cancer screening. Talk with your healthcare provider about the screening schedule and preventive care appropriate for you.