Cancer Prevention Works Newsletter

Latest Issue

October 19, 2020

New Study and Resources Bring Awareness to Breast Cancer in Men

Although it’s rare, men can get breast cancer too. In the United States, about 2,300 new cases of breast cancer and 500 deaths among men were reported in 2017. A new article in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) looks at breast cancer survival differences in men by factors such as race/ethnicity, age, diagnosis stage, and geographic region. Among men diagnosed with breast cancer during 2007 to 2016, the one-year survival rate was 96% and the five-year survival rate was 85%. Survival rates for non-Hispanic Black men were the lowest compared to rates for non-Hispanic White men and Hispanic men.

More studies and resources can help increase awareness of breast cancer in men and support those at high risk. A new U.S. Cancer Statistics data brief on male breast cancer shows that from 2013 to 2017, men aged 60 to 69 had the highest percentage of breast cancer cases and deaths. Our Breast Cancer Among Men blog answers important questions about the risks for this cancer and shares the latest research. A new breast cancer resource for men provides information to help men learn about male breast cancer symptoms and ways to reduce risk.

Building Breast Cancer Awareness through Education and Early Detection

Breast cancer affects many of us in some way—from relatives to friends, neighbors, coworkers, or personally. Each year in the United States, about 250,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women, and about 42,000 women die from it. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an important effort to increase attention to early detection and treatment, educate women about the risk factors, and strengthen support for survivors of this disease. Many factors can affect a woman’s chance of getting breast cancer including age, having dense breasts, and changes to BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.

Getting regular physical activity, keeping a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol can help women lower the risk of breast cancer. Talk with your doctor about your risks and breast cancer screening options that are right for you. Breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, but it can help find it early, when it is easier to treat. Start your health journey with breast cancer resources to help educate and empower you to make the best decisions about screening.

CDC Celebrates 30 Years of Improving Access to Cancer Screening Services

For 30 years, the work of CDC’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) has focused on improving access to cancer screening services. NBCCEDP helps low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women gain access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening, diagnostic, and treatment services. Cancer screening efforts include NBCCEDP award recipients in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, 6 U.S. territories, and 13 American Indian/Alaska Native tribes or tribal organizations.

Award recipients are sharing how their creative approaches such as flexible hours and locations, free rides to services, and health fairs have led to increases in cancer screening for communities nationwide.

What You Need to Know About Colorectal Cancer Screening

Colorectal (colon) cancer is the second leading cancer killer among cancers that affect men and women in the United States. It doesn’t have to be this way and you can take steps to change it. Almost all colorectal cancers begin as abnormal growths in the colon or rectum and can be present in the colon for years (without symptoms) before cancer develops. Colorectal cancer screening is the most effective way to reduce your risk because it can find abnormal growths so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Screening can also find cancer early, when treatment works best.

Find out the five important things you need to know to help you understand your colorectal cancer risk and screening options.

Research Spotlight

Interventions to increase breast and cervical cancer screening uptake among rural womenexternal icon looks at the low rates of breast and cervical cancer screening in rural communities, and interventions to help remove barriers to health care and address the unique needs of rural women.

Treatment cost and access to care: experiences of young women diagnosed with breast cancerexternal icon examines how cost affects breast cancer care among female breast cancer patients diagnosed between 18 and 39 years old.

Implementing evidence-based interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening uptake in federally qualified health centersexternal icon includes five manuscripts (one article and four research briefs) that look at interventions to Improve colorectal cancer screening across health systems in Chicago (Illinois), California, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

Did You Know?

• In 2017, about 9% of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States were found in women younger than 45 years of age.
• One of several risk factors for breast cancer is dense breasts, and the density of a woman’s breasts can change over time. Dense breast tissue may make it harder to identify a tumor on a mammogram.

Previous Issue

September 10, 2020

Learn About Gynecologic Cancers

September is Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, and this reminds women that good gynecologic health is important. Gynecologic cancers include five main types of cancer that affect a woman’s reproductive organs: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. All women are at risk for gynecologic cancers, and the risk increases as women get older. Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers.

Uterine cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. Most uterine cancers are found in women who are going through or who have gone through menopause, which is when a woman’s menstrual periods stop. If you notice symptoms like unusual bleeding and pain in the pelvis that lasts for two weeks or longer, see a doctor. When gynecologic cancers are found early, treatment works best.

Prostate Cancer: What Men Need to Know and Talk About

Prostate cancer is a very common cancer among men in the United States. All men are at risk for prostate cancer, but African American men are more likely to get prostate cancer than other men. The chance of getting prostate cancer increases as men get older. A family history that includes more than one first-degree relative (father, son or brother) with prostate cancer can also increase a man’s risk. Most prostate cancers grow slowly and may not need treatment right away. Some men may have a faster growing prostate cancer and will benefit from early treatment.

Screening for prostate cancer has benefits and harms. Talk with your doctor about your risks before making a decision to get screened. CDC is highlighting Prostate Cancer Awareness month with Talk to Someone About Prostate Cancer, a new tool to help men get a better understanding of prostate cancer and options for screening and treatment.

Healthy People 2030: A Shared Vision for Improving the Nation’s Health

Since 1980, the Healthy People initiative has set 10-year goals and measurable objectives to improve health and well-being in the United States. Healthy People 2030 builds on knowledge gained over the past four decades to address current and emerging public health priorities and challenges. Healthy People 2030 has a reduced number of objectives to avoid overlap and prioritize critical health issues.

Healthy People 2030 cancer objectivesexternal icon focuses on promoting evidence-based cancer screening and prevention strategies. These objectives are consistent with CDC’s current efforts to increase cancer screening and prevention awareness. In addition, high-quality data from CDC’s National Program of Cancer Registries, a central part of the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS), will help monitor and measure progress toward achieving the objective on cancer survival over the next 10 years.

New Podcast on Cancer Prevention and Care During a Pandemic

The Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) presents a new podcast, “CDC’s Perspective on Cancer Prevention, Treatment, and Care—Even During a Pandemic.”external icon This podcast features Dr. Lisa Richardson, director of CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. Dr. Richardson discusses CDC’s initiatives for cancer prevention and screening during the COVID-19 pandemic and flu season.

The conversation also focuses on how oncology nurses can help improve declining screening rates and access a new database of cancer incidence and biomarkers.

New Course Series: Understanding Early Onset Breast Cancer

Early onset breast cancer (EOBC) is breast cancer that occurs in women under the age of 45. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and CDC have joined efforts to help providers identify and manage the risks young women face for EOBC. Understanding Early Onset Breast Cancerexternal icon is a free CME-accredited (continuing medical education) course series that provides effective risk assessment tools, communication tools, and techniques that can be used in patient interactions.

Providers can learn about factors that contribute to EOBC, including genetic and racial/ethnic risk factors, breast density, and family history. This course series also helps providers identify ways to reduce the impact of health disparities in EOBC. If you have questions, please contact ACOG.

Research Spotlight

Effectiveness of interventions to increase colorectal cancer screening Among American Indians and Alaska Natives looks at the low colon cancer screening rates in American Indian and Alaska Native communities and how well interventions work to increase screening, specifically using direct mailing of fecal immunochemical test (FIT) kits.

In the United States, non-Hispanic Black women are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer more often than women of other ethnic or racial groups. Are there regional differences in triple negative breast cancer among non-Hispanic Black women?external icon looks at triple-negative breast cancer cases among non-Hispanic Black women by region in the United States.

Did You Know?

• It takes about two weeks after a flu vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection. Getting a flu shot is important for people with cancer, who are at risk for serious illness.
• The genes commonly affected in hereditary breast and ovarian cancer are the breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) genes. About 3% of breast cancers (about 7,500 women per year) and 10% of ovarian cancers (about 2,000 women per year) result from inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.