Breast Cancer Awareness Month Marks 40th Anniversary

By Tammy McCausland

This year is the 40^th anniversary of the founding of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society (ACS) co-led an effort in 1985 to create a week-long campaign aimed at educating women about why early screening and routine mammograms are important.¹ It has since expanded to an entire month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is recognized in countries around the world. A wide range of initiatives and activities take place throughout the month to raise awareness of and fundraise for breast cancer.

Since 1989, breast cancer death rates in the U.S. have dropped by 44 percent.² ACS estimates that the number of breast cancer survivors will reach 5.3 million by 2035.¹ Despite this positive news, according to the ACS, “approximately 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime, and 1 in 43 will die from the disease.”^1,3

Early detection leads to better outcomes. Medical societies—including the American College of Radiology, the Society of Breast Imaging, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network—recommend that women with average risk for breast cancer have a mammogram every year beginning at age 40.^4,5 In its 2024 recommendations, the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) suggested that women at average risk have a mammogram every other year starting at age 40.^4,6

Women at higher-than-average risk should start screening sooner. Specific recommendations vary depending on individual risk factors—for example, a family history of breast cancer or genetic screening that detects the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. It is generally recommended that women at higher-than-average risk have annual mammograms starting at age 30 and annual breast MRIs as early as age 25.⁴

Women from the Black, Latina, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American and Alaska Native populations face health disparities and should be vigilant about breast cancer screening. The American Cancer Society launched its Voices of Black Women study in 2024 to examine ongoing cancer disparities with the goal of increasing our understanding of cancer risk and outcomes.^1,7,8

This year, the World Health Organization highlighted the theme “Every Story Is Unique, Every Journey Matters” for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.⁹ It’s fitting because, although breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women worldwide, each woman diagnosed has an individual journey.

According to an analysis based on data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey, one in five adults were not up to date for breast cancer screening.¹⁰ Educate and encourage every woman you know to start or stay up to date with their screenings.

References:

1. Turning Awareness Into Action: American Cancer Society Recognizes 40 Years of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. American Cancer Society. The American Cancer Society. October 1, 2025.
2. Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2025. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. October 2025.
3. Cancer Facts & Figures 2025. The American Cancer Society. 2025.
4. Uscher J, Santora T. When to Get a Mammogram. BreastCancer.org. October 1, 2025.
5. Monticciolo DL, Malak SF, Friedewald SM, et al. Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations Inclusive of All Women at Average Risk: Update from the ACR and Society of Breast Imaging. Journal of the American College of Radiology. 2021;18(9):P1280–1288. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2021.04.021
6. U.S. Preventative Services Task Force. Final Recommendation Statement: Breast Cancer: Screening. April 30, 2024.
7. Voices of Black Women. The American Cancer Society. 2025.
8. Malhotra P. Breast Cancer: Why Disparities Persist and How to End Them. Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 2025.
9. World Health Organization. Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2025. 1–31 October 2025.
10. Sabatino SA, Thompson TD, Croswell JM, et al. Use of Cancer Screening Tests, United States, 2023. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vol 22. August 14, 2025.