Let’s make a private battle public – breast cancer awareness key

Posted on October 10, 2011

October is known internationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month aims to raise awareness about regular checks for breast cancer prevention and increase the community’s knowledge about breast cancer and breast cancer research.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in Australia. In 2011, it is estimated that 14,300 women and men in Australia will be diagnosed with breast cancer. In fact, one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85.

While age and family history are known risk factors for breast cancer, it can affect anyone. High profile women including Jane McGrath, Kylie Minogue and Olivia Newton-John have faced very public battles with breast cancer, but many women around Australia and around the world face very private battles with breast cancer every day.

I am extremely lucky that I haven’t experienced any loss in my family due to breast cancer, but I am acutely aware of the risks of breast cancer and the number of women who face the difficulties associated with it.

While the diagnosis of breast cancer is a traumatic experience for a woman, it also has significant emotional and financial impacts on other family members.

Living with breast cancer can be even harder for women in regional areas, who have to travel long distances to attend specialist appointments and receive treatment. This also means that they often have to spend time away from home and from the support of their loved ones while they are receiving treatment.

By 2015, the number of women expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer annually will increase to more than 15,400. Therefore, it is important that breast cancer awareness remains prominent in our community. While there is no way to prevent breast cancer at this stage, the early detection and diagnosis of breast cancer – when it is most treatable – is just so important.

Let’s make a private battle a public battle and raise breast cancer awareness in our community.