Breast Cancer Awareness: 7 Things Women Should Know

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and since the number one risk factor for breast cancer is being female — it’s vital that we, as women, are aware of potential risk factors and the power of early detection.

Breast cancer is a women’s health issue

According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer remains the world’s most prevalent cancer, and over 99% of cases occur in women.  In the US, UK, and Canada, it’s estimated that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in their life — and for Australia, that number is closer to 1 in 7. 

While those numbers can feel scary, this doesn’t have to be a doom and gloom conversation. So much progress has been made in early detection and new intervention methods that reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer, especially when cases are caught early.

We want this to be an empowering conversation, and we want to share stats and information that helps you feel confident in managing your health now and in the years to come. Since so many of the women in this community are trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or breastfeeding, we wanted to dedicate this post to 7 things that women should know when it comes to breast cancer, especially when thinking about starting a family.

Throughout this month, we’ll be sharing more resources on breast cancer and how it relates to fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum.

Your lifestyle can help reduce your risk of breast cancer

While your biological sex, personal genetics, and family history play significant roles in your breast cancer risk profile, it’s important to know that certain lifestyle behaviors can also help lower your chances of getting breast cancer. Things like active lifestyles, avoiding unhealthy alcohol intake, avoiding smoking, and maintaining a healthy weight for your body type have all been linked to a lower risk of developing breast cancer. No surprise here, these are all key lifestyle behaviors that support a higher chance of conception and a healthier pregnancy, too!

Fertility treatments have not been shown to increase your risk of breast cancer

Over the past few decades, studies have investigated whether fertility treatments could increase a woman’s risk for developing breast cancer later in life. Since fertility treatments often stimulate the production of estrogen, which acts on breast cells, the concern was that fertility treatments might contribute to the development of cancerous breast tissues. However, research published last year looked at studies from 1990-2020 and followed 1.8 million women over nearly 30 years. Their research found that “drugs routinely used during fertility treatments to release eggs do not increase the risk of developing breast cancer”.

If you develop breast cancer before starting a family, you may want to think about fertility preservation

When diagnosed with breast cancer at an early age, fertility concerns can arise. Some chemotherapy treatments may lead to infertility (though that is not always the case — see below), and some women may want to consider egg freezing as a proactive measure. A small study published in 2015 found that women who had their embryos frozen prior to breast cancer treatment were able to conceive at similar rates to women who did not have breast cancer and were receiving embryo transfer.

It’s important to consider that female fertility preservation (such as egg harvesting and freezing) can take several months, sometimes delaying breast cancer treatment. However, a promising study out of Sweden suggested that undergoing fertility preservation before treatment does not appear to reduce survival rates. It’s important to note that there are significant limitations to this study, so broad conclusions cannot be made from it. However, it’s worth having a conversation with your healthcare professional to assess your personal medical situation and future family plans.

Yes, it is possible to get pregnant after breast cancer treatments

Another meta-analysis of studies was published last year in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, which should give hope to women who have survived breast cancer and want to start a family in the future. These researchers looked at 39 different studies, where over 100,000 women had been diagnosed with breast cancer and over 7,500 went on to have a pregnancy after their diagnosis and treatment. While their findings did show that breast cancer reduced the likelihood of pregnancy by 60%, they noticed there was “no difference between breast cancer survivors and the general population for birth defects, completed pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, or postpartum bleeding”. While there was a higher risk of low birth weight and cesarean section, the research pointed to the fact that a successful, healthy pregnancy is possible for breast cancer survivors.

Next week, we’ll be sharing a post that outlines everything you need to know about fertility and breast cancer treatments.

Breastfeeding might reduce your risk of breast cancer later on

One of the most interesting things for women to be aware of is the potential protective effects that breastfeeding can have on breast cancer risk.

A number of large studies have shown a link between breastfeeding and reduced rates of breast cancer, however, the largest benefits were shown in women who breastfed for 12 months or more, and did so regularly. A 2017 report from the American Institute for Cancer Research showed that for every 5 months of breastfeeding, women experienced a 2% reduction in their risk of breast cancer. This is pretty exciting info, and it aligns with what other studies have found: the longer, the better.

One thing we want to make clear is that we know not all mothers can — or choose to — breastfeed, and that’s OK. Whatever your breastfeeding journey looks like, it should be what’s best for you and your baby.

Regular breast cancer screenings could save your life

Whether you are a mother or not, it’s so important that you’re aware of the screenings available to you and what they are looking for. Mammograms are the most common screening method for breast cancer detection and are generally recommended on an annual basis for women over the age of 40. Results from a randomized controlled trial found that women ages 40-48 who were offered mammograms every year were ”25% less likely to die of breast cancer in the first 10 years of the trial”.

There’s another exciting and effective cancer prevention strategy that you should be aware of, and it's called BRCA testing. It’s a blood test that checks for mutations in genes called BRCA1 and BRCA2, and the more recently added PALB2 gene, and it can help you better understand your chances of getting breast cancer. Having a mutation at a BRCA or PALB2 location does not mean you will definitely develop breast cancer, it just means that you are at a higher risk for it. If you have a family history of breast cancer, it’s highly recommended that you speak to your doctor about genetic testing that might be right for you.

Breast cancer vaccines are on the horizon

We hinted at this at the start of the post, and here’s the exciting news: last year, the Cleveland Clinic in the United States announced the first-ever study looking at a new breast cancer vaccine. This particular study is aimed at addressing the most aggressive form of breast cancer, called triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). While this particular type accounts for less than 15% of all breast cancers, it is deadlier than other types and also has a higher rate of recurrence, so a vaccine targeted at TNBC could be game-changing when it comes to breast cancer prevention. It’s important to remember that this is just phase 1 of a long period of clinical trials before such a treatment can be brought to market — but it’s an incredibly exciting milestone for women’s health and the fight against breast cancer for all.

The more you know about breast cancer, the more proactive you can be when it comes to early detection and treatment — for yourself and your loved ones.

Do you have more questions on breast cancer and what to be aware of during pregnancy and postpartum? Let us know in the comments below!

---