Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast cancer starts when cells in the breast begin to grow out of control. These cells usually form a tumor that can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. The tumor is malignant (cancer) if the cells can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. Breast cancer occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get breast cancer, too. 

According to World Health Organization it is estimated that worldwide over 508 000 women died in 2011 due to breast cancer (Global Health Estimates, WHO 2013). Although breast cancer is thought to be a disease of the developed world, almost 50% of breast cancer cases and 58% of deaths occur in less developed countries.

The Bahamas ranks among the top 20 countries in the world in terms of the number of women with breast cancer. The average age of Bahamian women with breast cancer is 42, and according to officials “one out of 10 women in The Bahamas get breast cancer.”