Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Resources, Videos and More

According to The American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women with the exception of skin cancers.  Currently, the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13 percent.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’ve assembled resources from PBS, partner stations and other public media initiatives to help you learn about prevention, diagnosis and treatment:

Breast Cancer Prevention:

What Women Should Know About Breast Cancer — No Matter Their Age from The Next Avenue

Breast cancer is scary and it’s not something we really want to think about. However, as one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in U.S. women (there are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today), it’s important to be aware of the facts so you can be prepared. This article provides six important facts for you to know about breast cancer and breast cancer treatment: https://www.nextavenue.org/know-about-breast-cancer/.

Inheritance

Meet three women who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer. Follow Alejandra, Lilith and Bonnie as they undergo life-altering medical procedures in the hope of reducing their risk – and saving their lives. Watch here now with CET or ThinkTV Passport: https://video.thinktv.org/video/inheritance-bgxzzz/.

The Breast Cancers Mammograms Are Likely to Miss from The Next Avenue

Read how dense tissue can make finding breast cancer harder what you can do to detect these type of cancers: https://www.nextavenue.org/the-breast-cancers-mammograms-are-likely-to-miss/?utm_source=PBS&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=merlin.   

3D Mammography New Tool To Catch Breast Cancer from Health Matters: Television for Life

Mammograms have been around for decades and are recognized as one of the best ways to detect breast cancer. Now new technology is making mammograms even better and helping doctors see cancer cells that they might have missed before.

Genetic Testing and Counseling for Breast Cancer Can Help Guide Decisions from The Next Avenue

Women newly diagnosed with breast cancer face so many unknowns: What does the diagnosis mean for my future? What kind of treatment is best? Did I inherit a high-risk gene? What effect will my cancer, if it is genetic, have on my children or grandchildren?

Genetic testing can answer some of those questions, but experts say that what precedes and follows that test is vital. Many women have been helped by genetic counseling. Learn more about it here: https://www.nextavenue.org/genetic-testing-counseling-guide-decisions/.

Getting the Diagnosis and Treatment:

Breast Cancer: Your Health In Your Hands

Breast Cancer survivors describe their cancer experience and how they navigated the healthcare system. Survivors, women of all ages, community health workers and doctors discuss cultural barriers to treatment.

Explore San Diego: A Journey Through Breast Cancer

This 1-hour documentary follows a woman through her breast cancer journey, including her treatment, diagnosis and recovery. The film is with the family every step of the way as they discuss the malady, how it affects their lives and how they interact with the primary physician.

NOVA: Chemotherapy and Breast Cancer

It used to be standard practice that all patients received chemotherapy after surgery to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer. Today, a genetic test called Oncotype DX allows doctors to analyze the genome of a patient’s cancer cells. The results can help oncologists determine whether a patient actually needs to endure chemotherapy post-surgery, avoiding possibly needless suffering.

Watch: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/chemotherapy-and-breast-cancer/

Health Matters: Television for Life: Surviving Breast Cancer

You have breast cancer. Now What? Breast cancer survival rates are rising as screening and treatment improve, but it is still the most invasive cancer in women. Learn more about the causes, types, and treatments of breast cancer as well as lifestyle choices that may lower the risk of breast cancer recurrence and improve survival.

Surviving Breast Cancer:

Stories and Solidarity from Breast Cancer Survivors from PBS Newshour

Estimates suggest that more than 42,000 people will die from breast cancer alone this year and more than 275,000 new cases will be diagnosed. But millions are also surviving the disease and NewsHour producer Ali Rogin is one of them. She joins Judy Woodruff to discuss her new book, “Beat Breast Cancer Like a Boss: 30 Powerful Stories.”

Paddle Together from the 2020 PBS Short Film Festival

Breast cancer survivors find support and friendship in a unique sport: Dragon Boat Racing.