October is a beautiful month. Spring has well and truly sprung, the days are longer and warmer, and the holiday season is fast approaching. However, October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) uses this month to encourage businesses and individuals to get involved with fundraising and awareness building.

Here Is everything you need to know about Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

About breast cancer

Breast cancer develops when cells within the breast grow abnormally and multiply to form a tumour. Sadly, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer. The National Breast Cancer Foundation says that its “incidence is increasing – with 1 in 7 Australian women and 1 in 600 Australian men expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime.” In New Zealand, breast cancer affects 1 in 9 women. Each year, around 25 men are also diagnosed. Early diagnosis is crucial in getting the survival rate to 0 deaths from breast cancer in both Australia and New Zealand.

Be breast aware

Breast cancer awareness starts with knowing your body and early detection.

Breast cancer symptoms

Knowing how your breasts look normally is vital in early detection, so you can identify any abnormalities. Symptoms to look out for include:

• A lump or thickening in the breast, especially if it’s only in one breast.
• Changes to the shape or size of the breast.
• Changes to the shape of the nipple such as crusting, sores or ulcers, redness or inversion.
• Changes to the skin of the breast.
• Fluid or discharge from the nipple that occurs without squeezing.

For a full list of symptoms, head to the NBCF website.

How to check for breast cancer

Take the time to get to know how your breasts look normally. This could be in the shower, while getting dressed, when putting on body lotion, etc. Make sure your breast check includes all parts of your breast, your armpit and up to your collarbone.

Not everyone's breasts are the same, so what’s different for you might be normal for someone else, which is why you need to speak to your doctor as soon as you notice something different.

Detection

Regular self-breast checks aren’t the only way to screen for breast cancer. There are multiple other detection tools including:

• Clinical examination
• Mammograms
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Ultrasound
• Biopsy

To learn more about each of these screening tools, head to the NBCF website.

Breast pain and aches

Breast pain, otherwise known as mastalgia, is very common in women, occurring in nearly 70% of women and is rarely linked to breast cancer. It’s a feeling that occurs in the breast region that may cause the breast to feel tender or sore. The pain may range from a dull ache or throb to a stabbing pain, a burning sensation, or a feeling of tightness. The pain can be constant or can happen occasionally, ranging from mild to severe.

Head to the NBCF website to find out more about breast pain and its causes.

Breast cysts

Breast cysts are fluid-filled round or oval sacs, like blisters, that form within the breast. They are usually noncancerous. In most cases, they do not require treatment unless they are large and painful or uncomfortable.

Breast cysts are more common in women aged 35-50 and those taking hormone replacement therapy but can occur in women of any age. Breast cysts can also be found in men, although this is very rare.

Head to the NBCF website to find out more about breast cysts.

Breast rashes

Rashes can occur on your breasts – just like they can occur on the rest of your body. A breast rash is a redness and irritation that occurs on the skin of the breast. It can also look inflamed and be itchy, scaly, painful or blistered. There are many potential causes for breast rashes and in rare instances it can be a sign of breast cancer.

To find out more about breast rashes, head to the NBCF website.

BREASTfast

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the NBCF is asking people to take a photo of their breakfast, post the images online, and donate the cost of their breakfast to the NBCF to fuel life-saving breast cancer research.

When posting, use the hashtag #BREASTfast to spread awareness and encourage others to do the same. Businesses can also host a BREASTfast with their team and encourage team members to donate.

Alternatively, you can donate here.

Raising awareness and fundraising

Although October is officially Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the NBCF consistently run other fundraising activities for businesses and individuals to get involved in. Some of their regular ones are listed below.

Go Pink

Go Pink brings the community together each June to make a proud pink pledge and raise funds for game-changing breast cancer research. Throughout June, those who make their pink pledge are encouraged to “wear it, shave it or colour it” for either a day or the whole month if you’re up for the challenge! Family, friends and colleagues are encouraged to donate to your team or individual team page, with every dollar going towards NBCF’s mission of zero deaths from breast cancer.

Step Up to Breast Cancer

The Step Up to Breast Cancer initiative challenges you to become an NBCF Super Stepper by completing 10,000 steps a day throughout the month of August to raise money for breast cancer research – that’s the equivalent of five marathons in one month! Steps can be completed in a team, on your own, at the gym, with your work colleagues or however you choose.

Game Day

The NBCF are looking to the gaming community to raise vital funds for cancer research. The Game Day event is held on May the 4^th (Star Wars day!) and encourages you to make an impact through your love of gaming – online or in real life. There are options to play individually, team up with friends, followers, family or colleagues and start raising funds. Once you’ve registered, you’ll be invited to Discord to connect with the NBCF gaming community. There are also options if you’re live streaming, with branded broadcaster toolkits available.

Mother’s Day Classic

For the past 25 years, the NBCF has run the Mother’s Day Classic walk or run on Mother’s Day. Since its inauguration, over 1.5 million people have participated, with nearly $40 million donated to the NBCF to fund life-saving research. There’s something for everyone at this event, with entertainment, live music, food stalls and more, creating a fantastic atmosphere. Those who aren’t local to the course are encouraged to join one of the Mother’s Day Classic local events across Australia on Mother’s Day – donning pink to show their support.

Sports Events

Aside from these fundraisers, the NBCF encourage the community to come up with their own activity to raise funds for breast cancer research. Currently, the Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival, 5km a Day Run or Walk Challenge, and Triathlon Pink 2022/23 Series are all opportunities for the community to fundraise and get involved.

When it comes to breast cancer, awareness shouldn’t only be isolated to one month of the year. Make sure you know the symptoms, understand what you’re looking for and seek help if you notice any changes.

To donate to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, click here .