Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Understanding risk, screening, and care

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a national observance focused on education and early detection. Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 321,910 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026, and roughly 1 in 8 women will develop the disease in their lifetime. When breast cancer is found early, treatment options are broader, and outcomes tend to be better.

Coastal Cancer Center has been the Grand Strand’s home for cancer care for more than 40 years. This month, our team is sharing what patients and families should know about breast cancer risk, screening, and treatment.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer begins when cells in the breast grow out of control and form a tumor. Most breast cancers start in the milk ducts (ductal carcinoma) or in the glands that produce milk (lobular carcinoma). Some are found at a very early stage called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), in which abnormal cells have not spread beyond the duct.

Breast cancer is not a single disease. Physicians classify each case by its features, including whether the cancer cells respond to the hormones estrogen or progesterone and whether they carry a protein called HER2. These details help determine which treatments are most appropriate. Men can also develop breast cancer, although it is far less common.

Breast cancer risk factors

Some risk factors cannot be changed, including:

• Age: risk increases as women get older, and the median age at diagnosis is 63.
• Family history of breast cancer, particularly in a mother, sister, or daughter.
• Inherited gene changes, such as mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.
• Dense breast tissue, which can also make tumors harder to see on a mammogram.
• A personal history of breast cancer or certain non-cancerous breast conditions.
• Starting menstrual periods before age 12 or reaching menopause after age 55.

Having a risk factor does not mean a person will develop breast cancer. Many women who are diagnosed have no known risk factors beyond being female and getting older, which is why regular screening matters for everyone.

Breast cancer screening guidelines

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a screening mammogram every two years for women ages 40 to 74 who are at average risk. Women at higher risk, such as those with a strong family history or a known gene mutation, may need to begin screening earlier or have additional imaging, such as a breast MRI. Your primary care provider can help determine the right schedule for you.

Coastal Cancer Center does not perform screening mammograms, so your primary care provider or OB-GYN is the best place to start. If your screening or follow-up testing shows something that needs a specialist’s evaluation, your provider may refer you to Coastal Cancer Center, or you can call our team directly to ask about scheduling an appointment.

Warning signs to know during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond

Screening is important, but it is also worth knowing how your breasts normally look and feel. Contact your provider if you notice:

• A new lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
• Swelling of all or part of the breast
• Dimpling or irritation of the skin
• A nipple that turns inward or becomes painful
• Redness, scaling, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk

What to expect after an abnormal result

Being called back after a mammogram is fairly common, and it does not mean you have cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, fewer than 1 in 10 women called back for more testing are found to have breast cancer. A callback often means the radiologist needs a clearer image of an area, especially in women with dense breast tissue or women having their first mammogram.

Follow-up testing usually happens in steps:

1. Diagnostic mammogram: a more detailed set of images focused on the area of concern.
2. Breast ultrasound or MRI: additional imaging that can show whether an area is solid or filled with fluid, or give a closer look at the tissue.
3. Biopsy: if imaging cannot rule out cancer, a small tissue sample is removed and examined under a microscope.

If a biopsy confirms breast cancer, the next step is a consultation with an oncologist, a physician who specializes in cancer treatment. During your first visit, your oncologist will review your pathology and imaging results, explain the type and stage of the cancer, and discuss treatment options with you.

Breast cancer treatment at Coastal Cancer Center

Each treatment plan is based on the type and stage of the cancer, its specific features, and the patient’s overall health. Depending on the diagnosis, options may include:

• Chemotherapy: medications that destroy cancer cells or slow their growth
• Radiation therapy: targeted high-energy beams that treat cancer in a specific area
• Hormone therapy: medications that block or lower hormones that can fuel some breast cancers
• Targeted therapy: medications that act on specific features of cancer cells, such as HER2
• Supportive care: treatment focused on managing symptoms and side effects

Medical oncology and infusion services are available in Myrtle Beach, Conway, Loris, and Murrells Inlet, with radiation oncology in Myrtle Beach and Conway, so patients can receive comprehensive care close to home.

When to talk with your doctor

Schedule a conversation with your primary care provider or OB-GYN if:

• You notice any new change in your breast or underarm
• You are 40 or older and have not had a mammogram in the past two years
• You have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer or a known gene mutation
• You are unsure which screening schedule is right for you

Taking the next step this Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to schedule an overdue mammogram, review your family history, and talk with your provider about your risk. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the physicians at Coastal Cancer Center are here to help you understand your options and plan your care.

Sources: American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Key Statistics (2026 estimates); American Cancer Society, Getting Called Back After a Mammogram; U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Breast Cancer Screening Recommendation (2024).