These days, the unfortunate truth is that somebody you know probably has been or will be diagnosed with breast cancer. An estimated 1 in every 8 women are diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 70, making it one of the most common diseases women of the 21st century must face. Learn more about the devastating implications that breast cancer has on mothers, daughters, and wives in the UK and worldwide and one simple way you can help support the cancer research cause in this article.
First, let’s restrict our focus to the incidence rates of breast cancer cases in the UK. Cancer Research UK reports that approximately 48,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed each year. That means about 132 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every day, the majority of these diagnoses (over 99%) occurring in women. Breast cancer is the commonest cancer diagnosed in women in the UK, accounting for one-third of all new cancer cases in women each year. Women over the age of 50 who have gone through menopause are particularly vulnerable to developing breast cancer, with about 80% of all cancer cases occurring within this age group. The highest incidence rates of breast cancer in the UK occur in England; the lowest incidence rates occur in Northern Ireland.
Around the world, breast cancer incidence rates vary by country, although overall it remains the commonest form of cancer diagnosed in women worldwide. An estimated 1.6 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed last year alone. Women living in developed countries—especially in Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand—have a higher lifetime risk of developing breast cancer than those in developing countries. It is important to note here, however, that low screening rates and incomplete reports from developing countries may skew their figures to be somewhat lower than reports coming from developed nations.
Because the incidence of breast cancer in women in the UK and worldwide is so high, creating awareness about the disease is crucial. Early detection through self-examinations and professional screenings can help women catch cancer while it’s still in its early stages and prevent it from spreading to other areas of the body. Women should perform self-screenings regularly to check for abnormalities and lumps in their breasts and be screened by a health care professional at least every three years.
If you have experienced the devastating effects that breast cancer can have on a woman’s life, you might be looking for ways to help support the cause. Thanks to musicMagpie, you can support cancer research by simply selling back unwanted items. Sell CDs, DVDs, and games to help support cancer care and research by typing in their barcodes on musicMagpie’s website. When you’re ready to complete your order, choose Breast Cancer Care as the charity you want your donation to support. It’s as simple as that: get rid of your unwanted CDs, DVDs, and games by selling them back to music Magpie, and they’ll support causes that help the world get rid of much bigger problems.
*Disclaimer: This is a guest post by musicMagpie.