Galesburg Reporter

The American Cancer Society approximated that 40,000 women will die from breast cancer in 2022 in the United States.

“October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer,” Senator Jil Tracy wrote on Facebook.

The American Cancer Society added there are approximately 3.8 million breast cancer survivors.

In her Facebook post, Sen. Tracy shared a link to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, which offers a variety of programs and support for individuals facing a breast cancer diagnosis. The organization's programs include: a patient navigation program, a national mammography program, Hope Kits, retreats for individuals with metastatic breast cancer, support groups, as well as education and research.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that men also face breast cancer, saying approximately 1 in 100 breast cancer cases are men.

“As a guy, we’re not used to hearing things like that; not used to being told, ‘hey you may have breast cancer,’” Kelvin Woods, a breast cancer survivor, said to KGW 8.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the incidents of Breast cancer In Situ for female individuals are dropping, while Breast Cancer is increasing.

October has been Breast Cancer Awareness Month for 40 years. Many organizations will do something for the month, such as the Washington Savings Bank.

The Washington Savings Bank will be hosting a pink pumpkin contest fundraiser where its employees decorated pink pumpkins themed around breast cancer awareness, which are on display at 200 South Banker Street in Effingham and 1111 Charleston Avenue and 1117 Broadway Avenue in Mattoon.

Doctors use several tests to determine if an individual may have breast cancer. Those include ultrasounds of the breast and surrounding tissue, diagnostic mammograms, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast, and biopsies, which remove fluid or tissue for examination.