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American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Awareness

Toolkit2019

Table of Contents

Moving From Awareness to Action

October Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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How to Use This Breast Cancer Awareness Toolkit 4

Email Messages/Newsletter Inserts 5

Short Promotional Messages

Social Media

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Breast Cancer Quiz 15

Breast Cancer Stories of Hope 18

Breast Cancer PowerPoint Presentation 19

Breast Cancer Videos 19

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Moving From Awareness to Action

Nearly everyone in your company probably has been touched by cancer in some way, whether personally or through the experience of someone they know. Still, your employees can make lifestyle choices to help reduce their cancer risk. Many different cancers diagnosed in the United States could be prevented if people did what we know works: getting to and staying at a healthy weight, eating a healthy diet, exercising, and, if you drink at all, limiting the amount you drink. Avoiding tobacco, limiting sun exposure, and getting recommended cancer screening tests are also ways to help reduce your cancer risk.

The power of prevention and early detection

Regular cancer screening tests can help prevent colorectal and cervical cancers before they start. Regular screening also can help find some cancers early, including breast cancer. If cancers are found early when they’re small and haven’t spread, they might be easier to treat. Early detection could help increase the survival rates for cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, lung, and cervix.

Cancers related to cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented if people stayed away from tobacco, avoided secondhand smoke, and limited their alcohol consumption.

Many skin cancer cases might be prevented if people protected themselves from the sun.

You can take an important step toward creating a healthy workplace by encouraging your employees to learn the facts about recommended cancer screening tests and to take care of themselves with everyday lifestyle choices. Healthy employees typically live longer, feel better, and use fewer sick days, all of which help keep health care costs down.

Together with the American Cancer Society, your company can help save more lives by improving your employees’ health and well-being, while benefiting your organization’s bottom line.

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October Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. After lung cancer, breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in women.

This is where you come in. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Together with the American Cancer Society, you can encourage your employees to take steps to help lower their risk of developing breast cancer and help find it early, when it might be easier to treat.

By collaborating with us, you can also help connect employees facing breast cancer to patient programs and services they might need throughout their diagnosis. We encourage you to share these messages during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and throughout the year.

How to Use This Breast Cancer Awareness Toolkit

The American Cancer Society is pleased to be working with your company to help your employees and their families do everything possible to help lower their risk of breast cancer and find it early when it might be easier to treat, as well as provide information for those who already have been affected by the disease. For those who have already been diagnosed with breast cancer, we are here throughout the entire journey with the latest cancer information, day-to-day help, and emotional support.

Raising awareness about breast cancer at your company sends the message that you care about the well-being of your employees and their families, which is something employees appreciate. This American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Awareness Toolkit makes it easy to do just that.

Currently, the toolkit is available only in English, but we do offer information about cancer including prevention, early detection, treatment, and managing side effects in several languages. The link to Cancer Information in Other Languages is on the Content Subscription Service page in the Additional Resources section. Please be sure to cite the American Cancer Society as your source when sharing the enclosed information with your employees. All content in this document is updated and accurate. Since even a slight change in wording can alter the meaning or accuracy of certain medical content, changing the text or content of this toolkit is not permitted without approval from the American Cancer Society. Thank you again for your workplace commitment to raising awareness, which can help save lives.

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Email Messages/Newsletter Inserts

These email messages and newsletter inserts can be interchanged.

Message #1: October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In 2019, an estimated 268,000 women and 2,670 men in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. It’s the second-leading cause of cancer death in American women (after lung cancer).

For now, the best way we have to find breast cancer early – when it’s small, has not spread, and might be easier to treat – is for women to get regular mammograms and continue to do so as long as they’re in good health.

Women between the ages of 40 and 44 can choose to get a mammogram every year.

Women ages 45 to 54 should get a mammogram every year.

Women 55 and older can switch to getting a mammogram every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

Women also can take these steps to help lower their risk of breast cancer:

Get to and stay at a healthy weight. Stay active. Limit how much alcohol you drink.

If you know someone facing breast cancer, tell them that the American Cancer Society® is here to help them every step of the way. We offer access to free transportation and lodging when you need to get treatment away from your home, and can connect you with a trained volunteer to receive peer-to-peer support on everything from practical and emotional issues to helping you cope with your cancer treatment and long-term survivorship issues.

During October, we remind women about the importance of breast health and celebrate the progress we’ve made. You can help! Participate in one of the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® nationwide events, speak out to increase funding for programs that give all women access to mammograms and treatment, or simply remind the women in your life to get regular mammograms.

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For more information, visit the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org/breastcancer or call us at 1-800-227-2345.

Message #2: American Cancer Society® Screening Recommendations for Women Who Have an Average Risk of Breast Cancer

A woman is at average risk for breast cancer if she doesn’t have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer (such as BRCA), and she has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30. Breast cancer can happen at any age, but the risk goes up as you get older.

All women should be familiar with the known benefits, limitations, and potential harms linked to breast cancer screening.

All women should also know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to a health care provider right away.

Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year. Women between 45 and 54 should get a mammogram every year. Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to

continue getting a mammogram every year. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

Regular mammograms can help find breast changes that could be cancer years before physical symptoms develop. Results of many decades of research clearly show that women who have regular mammograms are more likely to have breast cancer found early, are less likely to need aggressive treatment like mastectomy (surgery to remove the breast) and chemotherapy, and they are more likely to be cured.

Mammograms are not perfect. They miss some cancers. And sometimes a woman will need more tests to know if something found on a mammogram is or is not cancer.. It’s important that women getting mammograms know what to expect and understand the benefits and limitations of screening.

To learn more about mammograms and breast cancer screening, visit the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org/breastcancer or call us at 1-800-227-2345. We’re here for you when you need us.

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Message #3: Do You Know Your Risk for Breast Cancer?

There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer. But there are things you can do that might lower your risk. Getting regular screening tests is the best way to find breast cancer early.

Breast cancer is much more common in women than in men, but men can develop it, too.

As you get older, your breast cancer risk increases. Most women are age 55 or older when they are diagnosed with breast cancer.

Breast cancer risk is higher among women who have personal or family history of breast cancer. Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer increases a woman’s risk. Still, most women with breast cancer do not have a first-degree relative with the disease.

Other risk factors for breast cancer include:

Taking post-menopausal hormone therapy (especially combined estrogen and progestin therapy) Being overweight or obese, especially if weight is gained after menopause Drinking alcohol, especially more than one drink a day Being physically inactive Having a long menstrual history Never having children or having your first child after age 30 Having had chest radiation to treat a different cancer Having a personal history of breast cancer Having certain benign (non-cancer) breast conditions

To learn more about breast cancer risk factors and the steps you can take to help reduce your risk, visit the American Cancer Society® website at cancer.org/breastcancer or call us at 1-800-227-2345.

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Message #4: Do You Know the Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Do you know how your breasts normally feel? Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel is an important part of breast health. But knowing what to look for does not take the place of having regular mammograms and other screening tests. Screening tests can help find breast cancer in its early stages, before any symptoms appear.

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A painless, hard mass that has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. They can even be painful. For this reason, it is important to have any new breast mass, lump, or breast change checked by a health care professional experienced in diagnosing breast conditions.

Other possible symptoms of breast cancer include:

Swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt)

Skin irritation or dimpling (sometimes looking like an orange peel)

Breast or nipple pain

Nipple retraction (turning inward)

Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin

Nipple discharge (other than breast milk)

Sometimes a breast cancer can spread to lymph nodes under the arm or around the collar bone and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast is large enough to be felt. Swollen lymph nodes should also be checked by a health care provider.

Although any of these symptoms can be caused by things other than breast cancer, if you have them, they should be reported to a health care professional so that the cause can be found.

Because mammograms do not find every breast cancer, it is important for you to be aware of changes in your breasts and to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

For more information, visit the American Cancer Society® website at cancer.org/breastcancer or call us at 1-800-227-2345. We’re here for you every step of the way.

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Message #5: Mammograms: What You Need to Know

What is a mammogram? A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast that lets specialists look for changes in breast tissue. It can often help find breast cancer before a lump can be felt

Screening mammograms look for breast disease in women who don’t seem to have breast symptoms or problems.

A diagnostic mammogram is used to diagnose breast disease in women who have breast symptoms or if a change is seen on a screening mammogram.

What does a mammogram show?Mammograms can’t prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but they can give information that shows if more testing is needed. The 2 main types of breast changes found with a mammogram are calcifications and masses.

Calcifications are tiny mineral deposits in breast tissue. On the mammogram picture, they look like small white spots. They may or may not be caused by cancer.

A mass can be many things, including a cyst (fluid-filled sac) or a non-cancerous (benign) tumor, but it could also be cancer.

Having your older mammograms available for the radiologist to use for comparison is very important. They can help show if a mass or calcification has changed over time, which could help the doctor decide if more tests are needed.

How does it work?A mammogram is done by a machine designed to look only at breast tissue. This machine takes x-rays at lower doses than usual x-rays. Because these x-rays don’t go through tissue easily, the machine has 2 plates that compress or flatten the breast to spread the tissue. This gives a better picture and allows less radiation to be used.

Why should I have a mammogram?A mammogram can often help find breast cancer early, when it’s small and has not spread. This gives you more treatment choices and can help save your life.

For more information on breast cancer early detection or mammograms, go to cancer.org/breastcancer or call the American Cancer Society® at 1-800-227-2345.

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Message #6: Raising Awareness and Funds to Help Save Lives

The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® walk is a powerful event to raise awareness and funds to end breast cancer. As the largest network of breast cancer events in the nation, these non-competitive 3- to 5-mile walks unite more than 200 communities with a shared determination to save lives from breast cancer.

The events raise money to help the American Cancer Society save lives by funding innovative breast cancer research and providing vital patient and caregiver services when and where people need them.

Join the American Cancer Society at MakingStridesWalk.org or call us at 1-800-227-2345.

Message #7: Men Can Get Breast Cancer, Too.

Breast cancer occurs mainly in women, but men can get it, too. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer. Men have less breast tissue than women, but they can get the same kinds of breast cancer. Because men have very little breast tissue, it is easier for them and their health care provider to feel small masses (tumors).

Finding breast cancer early improves the chances that male breast cancer might be treated successfully. However, because breast cancer is so uncommon in men, there is unlikely to be any benefit in screening men in the general population for breast cancer with mammograms or other tests.

Some men ignore breast lumps or think they are caused by an infection or some other reason, and don’t get medical treatment until the mass has had a chance to grow. Some men are embarrassed when they find a breast lump and worry that someone might question their masculinity. This could also delay diagnosis and reduce a man’s chances for successful treatment.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer in men

Possible symptoms to watch for include:

A lump or swelling, which is often (but not always) painless

Skin dimpling or puckering

Nipple retraction (turning inward)

Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin

Discharge from the nipple

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For more information on the steps you can take to find and maybe even help prevent breast cancer, visit breastcancer/prevention or call the American Cancer Society® at 1-800-227-2345.

Message #8: Myths and Truths About Breast Cancer and Mammograms

MYTH: No one in my family has ever had breast cancer, so I don’t really need to worry.

TRUTH: About 8 out of 10 breast cancers are diagnosed in women who have no family history of the disease.

MYTH: If I’m going to get breast cancer, there’s nothing I can do about it.

TRUTH: Yes, there are some things you can do. We know that when breast cancer is found early, while it’s small and before it has spread, the chance of successful treatment may be higher. A mammogram can find a tumor when it’s still small and has not spread. This gives you more treatment choices and can help save your life.

You can also take steps to help reduce your risk of the disease, such as getting to and staying at a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and limiting or avoiding alcohol.

MYTH: These tests cost a lot, and I can’t afford a mammogram.

TRUTH: Medicare, Medicaid, and almost all insurance companies cover screening mammograms. Some doctors, hospitals, or clinics might also lower their fees for women who can’t afford the usual charge.

Some low-cost mammogram programs are also available. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides free or low-cost screening and follow-up treatment for low-income, uninsured, and under-insured women, with a high priority on reaching racial and ethnic minority women. Call the American Cancer Society® at 1-800-227-2345 to learn more about low-cost programs in your community.

MYTH: Since mammograms are x-rays, the radiation could be dangerous.

TRUTH: Today, the level of radiation in a mammogram is very low and the benefits of mammograms outweigh the risk.

MYTH: I heard mammograms hurt.

TRUTH: Some women may feel some discomfort, but only for a very short time.

When you get a mammogram, you stand beside the machine and a specially trained technologist helps place your breast on a metal plate. A second plate made of plastic is placed on top, and for a few seconds, the top plate is pushed down to flatten the breast to get a good, clear picture. Two pictures are taken of each breast.

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To lessen discomfort, don’t schedule your mammogram during your period or the week before it, when your breasts are most tender.

MYTH: If I get a mammogram, they’re going to find breast cancer.

TRUTH: Most mammogram results come back normal. If a suspicious area is found on a mammogram, you might need more tests to find out what it is. Another mammogram may be done, focusing on the area of concern. A doctor may also use a thin needle to remove fluid or a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area. This is called a biopsy, and it’s the only way to know for sure if the change is caused by cancer.

MYTH: I’ve lived this long without getting breast cancer. Why should I bother getting a mammogram?

TRUTH: Your risk of developing breast cancer goes up as you get older. Most breast cancers diagnosed each year are in women age 55 or older. Even after you’ve been through menopause, you still need mammograms.

For more facts about breast cancer and early detection, please visit the American Cancer Society® website at cancer.org/breastcancer or call us at 1-800-227-2345. We’re here for you when you need us.

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Short Promotional Messages

Need to get a mammogram? Do you know what to expect? What should you know to make the process go more smoothly? For more information, read Tips for Getting a Mammogram at cancer.org/breastcancer.

Staying at a healthy weight, being physically active, and limiting or avoiding alcohol are smart strategies to help lower your risk of breast cancer. Call the American Cancer Society® at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org/breastcancer to learn more about the steps you can take to help reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Diet, exercise, and other lifestyle choices affect your overall health and your risk for breast cancer. To share healthy tips and other information, the American Cancer Society® offers the Healthy Living newsletter, a free monthly email with useful information on exercising, eating better, and maintaining a healthy weight to help reduce your cancer risk. Sign up today.

If you or someone you know is facing breast cancer, the American Cancer Society® is here to help, every step of the way. Please visit cancer.org/breastcancer or call 1-800-227-2345 to:

Learn more about all aspects of breast cancer. Find free services to overcome daily challenges. Connect with trained volunteers for peer-to-peer support on everything from practical and

emotional issues to help coping with breast cancer, treatment, and long-term survivorship issues.

A breast change can show up on mammograms before you or a health care provider can feel a lump. Visit cancer.org/breastcancer or call 1-800-227-2345 to learn more about breast cancer screening.

Interested in helping someone facing a breast cancer diagnosis? Volunteer to be part of the American Cancer Society Reach To Recovery® program. The program connects trained volunteers with breast cancer patients to provide them peer-to-peer support on everything from practical and emotional issues to helping them cope with their disease, treatment, and long-term survivorship issues. Or call us at 1-800-227-2345 to learn more.

If you are a cancer patient or caregiver and you learn a hurricane, wildfire, flood, or other natural disaster is coming your way, do you know what to do to prepare in advance?

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Social MediaIf your company has followers on Facebook, you can use the following messages.

Do you or someone you care about have a mammogram scheduled? Check out 7 things to know before going.

You don’t have to face breast cancer alone. The {American Cancer Society} offers support programs and services for people with cancer and their caregivers every step of the way.

If you or someone you know recently has been diagnosed with breast cancer, Breast Cancer Clear & Simple answers your questions about risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment in a friendly, easy-to-understand way.

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Breast Cancer Quiz

Do you know the facts about breast health? Circle your answer.

1. You can get breast cancer even if it doesn’t run in your family.

True

False

2. If breast cancer runs in your family, you’re sure to get it.

True

False

3. Surgery and needle biopsies can cause breast cancer to spread.

True

False

4. Men can get breast cancer.

True

False

5. You still need mammograms after menopause.

True

False

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Breast Cancer Quiz Answers

1. You can get breast cancer even if it doesn’t run in your family.

TRUE. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer – about 80% – have no family history of the disease. Having a relative with breast cancer does increase your risk. But other factors such as age, being overweight, alcohol use, and hormone therapy after menopause can also increase your risk of developing breast cancer.

2. If breast cancer runs in your family, you’re sure to get it.

FALSE. Having breast cancer in your family doesn’t guarantee you’ll get it. Many times, cancer runs in families because they have similar lifestyle habits – habits you can control and change to lower your risk of breast cancer. This includes staying at a healthy weight, getting regular physical activity, and not smoking. If you do suspect you have an inherited gene mutation, talk to your doctor about genetic counseling. The most common defects or mutations that increase breast cancer risk are in the BRCA genes.

Knowing your family history empowers you to tackle the risk factors you can control. It should also motivate you to get screened regularly so that breast cancer is caught early – when it’s small, hasn’t spread, and might be easier to treat. Talk to your doctor about what your risk is, when you need to start screening, and whether you need extra tests beyond mammograms and breast exams.

3. Surgery and needle biopsies can cause breast cancer to spread.

FALSE. Needle biopsies to diagnose breast cancer do not cause cancer cells to spread to other parts of the body. Nor does exposure to air during breast cancer surgery cause the disease to spread. Sometimes a surgeon does find more cancer than the imaging scans or X-rays showed, but in those cases the cancer was already there. It just hadn’t shown up on tests that were done.

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4. Men can get breast cancer.

True. About 2,600 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Men should not ignore breast lumps and should get any breast changes checked. Still, breast cancer is about 100 times more common in women than men.

5. You still need mammograms after menopause.

TRUE. Getting older is not a reason to skip regular breast health checks. In fact, your risk of developing breast cancer goes up as you get older. About 2 out of 3 invasive breast cancers are found in women age 55 or older. As long as you’re in good health and would be a candidate for treatment, you should continue getting mammograms.

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Breast Cancer Stories of Hope

Many breast cancer survivors, or those who know someone who has or had breast cancer, share their experiences to encourage others. Read their Stories of Hope and consider asking your employees to share their stories in your company newsletter or on your company intranet. Ask for the following information:

Name

Age

How was your breast cancer found, and when were you diagnosed?

Describe your experience, including how the American Cancer Society® and your company helped you, if applicable.

What message would you send to others about having breast cancer and the importance of early detection?

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Breast Cancer PowerPoint Presentation

Give your employees the facts about breast cancer with this brief presentation created by the American Cancer Society.

This presentation package includes a PowerPoint presentation and detailed notes for delivering the information to your employees. To access the presentation:

1. Go to http://www.cancer.org/healthy/informationforhealthcareprofessionals/cancerpresentations/index .

2. Select the presentation you want to use and save the slide deck and the speaker notes to your computer.

3. Review the speaker notes before sharing the presentation.

Breast Cancer Videos

Early detection and improvements in treatment have helped millions of women survive breast cancer. The videos in this collection explain breast cancer screening and genetic testing, as well as some of the potential side effects of treatment. There are also personal stories from breast cancer survivors.

Visit our breast cancer video collection .

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©2019, American Cancer Society, Inc.