Understanding Breast Cancer as a Part of Reproductive Health

blog

Oct 21

Written By Comma

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—a time to honor the strength of those who have faced breast cancer, support those currently navigating it, and commit to advancing education, research, and early detection for all.

At Comma, we recognize that breast health is an essential part of reproductive health. Your breasts respond to hormonal changes throughout your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, which means understanding them is part of understanding your body.

The State of Breast Cancer: Prevalence and Risk

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer death.

In the U.S., 1 in 8 women (roughly 13% of the female population) will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. The good news is that breast cancer deaths have decreased by 44% since 1989, largely due to improved awareness and early detection efforts.

Common Risk Factors

While anyone can develop breast cancer, certain factors increase risk:

Age: Most women who receive a breast cancer diagnosis are over the age of 50.
Genetic Mutations: BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations significantly increase the risk of both breast and ovarian cancer.
Reproductive History: Starting menstruation before age 12 or beginning menopause after 55 exposes women to hormones longer, which can raise risk.
Family History: Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast or ovarian cancer increases your own likelihood of developing it.
Dense Breast Tissue: Dense breasts can make it harder to detect tumors on a mammogram.

The Power of Early Detection

When breast cancer is caught early, the outcomes are overwhelmingly positive—there is a 99% five-year relative survival rate for cancers detected in their localized stage.

How to Stay Proactive

Perform monthly breast self-exams: Check for lumps or changes, but also take time to become familiar with how your breasts normally look or feel. If something feels different (like a new bump, change in shape, skin texture, or persistent pain), talk to your healthcare provider. Self-exams don’t replace clinical screenings, but they are an important part of staying connected to your health. Check out this guide for step-by-step guidance on how to perform a breast self-exam.
- If you menstruate, it’s best to do this a few days after your period ends when tenderness is minimal.
- If you’re post-menopausal, pick the same day each month as your reminder.
- About 40% of diagnosed breast cancers are first detected by women who felt a lump themselves—highlighting the importance of self-awareness.
Schedule regular mammograms: Most experts recommend mammograms every 1-2 years starting at age 40, or earlier (around 30) for high-risk women.

Catching breast cancer early can save your life, and it begins with knowing your body.

Breast Cancer Affects Us All—But Not Equally

Despite advances in care, not all communities benefit equally from early detection and treatment.

Racial Disparities

Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, despite similar diagnosis rates. They also have the lowest five-year survival rate of any racial or ethnic group.
Indigenous women and those in rural areas face limited access to screenings and often receive delayed diagnosis. Despite overall mortality rates declining since 1989, mortality rates among Native women have remained unchanged.
Latina women are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages (when it is more difficult to treat) and breast cancer remains the leading cause of death for Hispanic women.

Why These Disparities Exist

These inequities arenʼt biological—theyʼre systemic.

Access to care: Many women of color face financial, geographic, and logistical barriers to screening and treatment.
Underrepresentation in research: Minorities represent less than 15% of participants in breast cancer clinical trials.
Provider bias: Unfair treatment can lead to delayed diagnoses, undertreatment, and insufficient follow-up for women of color.
Deep cultural and social determinants: Medical mistrust, language barriers, and the lack of culturally competent care can prevent women from seeking or maintaining treatment.

This month, we must not only raise awareness, but also raise our voices for equity. Every woman deserves timely, compassionate, and culturally informed care.

Empowerment and Support: Caring for the Whole Self

Breast cancer awareness is about more than your body—it’s about your mind and heart too. Your physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing are deeply connected, and each deserves care.

The Emotional Weight of Breast Cancer

A diagnosis can carry immense emotional weight. Fear of the disease, anxiety about treatment, and uncertainty about the future are all normal responses. Many women grieve the sense of health and certainty they’ve lost.

For survivors, that emotional journey often continues with challenges around body image, guilt (for worrying loved ones or feeling like a burden), and fear of recurrence being common. These feelings are real and deserve both validation and support.

Prioritizing Mental Health

Emotional wellbeing is as essential to recovery as medical treatment. Nearly one in four people with breast cancer face clinical depression, and many experience anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, memory loss, mood swings, or even PTSD.

These feelings don’t signal weakness. They’re a natural response to trauma. Therapy, peer support groups, and mental health counseling can help you process these feelings and regain balance.

Body Image and Healing

Surgery, scars, and treatment side effects can change how you see your body and that can be deeply emotional. Healing is also about rebuilding your relationship with your body, appreciating its strength, resilience, and everything it’s carried you through. It deserves patience, gentleness, and care.

The Power of Community

No one should face breast cancer alone. Connection, whether through loved ones, peer groups, or shared stories, helps lighten the emotional load.

At Comma, we believe in the power of community and in caring for menstrual, reproductive, and mental health as a whole. When we talk openly, support one another, and advocate for better care, we move closer to a world where every woman has the knowledge, care, and community she deserves.

Closing Thoughts

At Comma, our mission is to help all menstruators better understand their bodies, because knowledge is power and care begins with awareness. When people have access to accurate information, inclusive tools, and compassionate support, they can make informed choices about their health and advocate for the care they deserve.

We are building a future where every person, regardless of their background, feels seen, supported, and equipped to care for themselves, not just during Breast Cancer Awareness Month but every day of the year.