With one in eight Australian women being diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85, you can find someone in every community who has been touched by the disease.
More than 14,000 women and 105 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. These thousands of women are our mothers, our sisters, our partners and our friends.
Today, Monday 22 October, is Australia’s Breast Cancer Day - an opportunity for us to reflect on the impact of this disease and show support for women and families personally affected by breast cancer.
Improved treatments and a national screening program has led to earlier detection and improved survival rates. However with Australian’s population ageing we are seeing an increase in the number of women diagnosed.
Internationally, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here in Australia the main breast cancer organisations - BCNA, McGrath Foundation, National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and Cancer Australia - all hold events to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time to highlight the on-going medical research that is helping to advance our knowledge and understanding of the disease and provide improvements in detection, treatments, patient care and health outcomes for those diagnosed with breast cancer.
During the month of October, BCNA members have been out in their communities sharing their stories and raising awareness about the support and resources available for women with breast cancer.
Today, BCNA member Sharon Cohrs will share her story with hundreds of people at Cancer Australia’s fundraising Pink Ribbon Breakfast in Sydney. Sharon was the first breast cancer survivor to summit Mount Everest, showing incredible strength and determination following her breast cancer diagnosis.
Every day the staff at BCNA connect with women facing their own breast cancer.
Today, like every day, BCNA pays tribute to the many Australian women and men affected by breast cancer.
More information
- View the opinion piece which appeared in The Age from Maxine to coincide with Australia's Breast Cancer Day.
