October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and doctors are encouraging healthy behaviors to lower the risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.
One in eight women in the U.S. will develop breast cancer, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Despite being a somewhat-common issue among women, men can also get breast cancer.
The risk of diagnosis before age 40 is fairly low, but not impossible.
Kaitlyn Egan is a breast cancer survivor. Egan was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 31.
“This is a disease that we have often believed affects the older generation,” she said. “Being diagnosed at 31 was super difficult, but you need to stand up for yourself. You know what's right. You know your body. You have to stand up for yourself, and don't take no for an answer.”
Ways to reduce the risk of breast cancer include being active, maintaining a healthy weight, minimizing or eliminating alcohol consumption, avoiding smoking and having breast cancer screenings.
According to the American Cancer Society in Nebraska, about 131 women per every 100,000 will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
“In general, risk increases with age,” said Janelle-Cheri Millen, a complex general surgical oncologist and an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. “The risk prior to age 40 is fairly low, which is why we recommend screening starting at age 40, but the highest risk is beyond age 59-60.”
Breast cancer is most common among white women.