In October, the Network Celebrates…
Breast Cancer Awareness Month World Menopause Day Bone and Joint Health National Action Week Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The best science, stories, and strategies related to this month’s national health themes. Check back throughout the month for new additions.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 298K women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 – and about 43K will die this year from the disease. When detected early, breast cancer has a five-year survival rate of 99%. Read on for the latest information on breast cancer risks, prevention, and treatment.
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- Action Alert! October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – And it’s more about the pink ribbons. Check out Breastcancer.org, Breast Cancer Action, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation to learn how to celebrate compassionately and helpfully.
- Breast Cancer 101– We’ve developed a comprehensive breast cancer fact sheet so you can get all the information about breast cancer signs, symptoms, risk factors, screening, and treatment options all in one place.
- Breast Cancer Support Groups and Clinical Trials – If you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, you are not alone. Find community and revolutionary treatments vetted by us here.
- Breast Density: The Often-Overlooked Breast Cancer Risk – Dense breasts often mask cancer on mammograms. Learn how to detect breast cancer early (even if you have dense breasts), from trusted NWHN partners here.
- Breast Cancer Stories – The NWHN’s Executive Director and an NWHN board member share their breast cancer survivor stories. And Carletta’s story will really inspire you.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- Women pay more out-of-pocket for breast cancer treatment and other health care, recent data shows.
- Breast cancer drug could trigger dangerously high blood sugar.
- 1 in 10 women ages 40+ have never had a breast cancer screening
- The Layers of Advocacy: A Cancer Survivor’s Guide
- AI helping spot hard-to-find breast cancer among women
- Why women facing tough choices around breast cancer and mastectomy often feel judged
- Breast cancer rates are rising. But more women are surviving, too
- Q&A: Annual breast cancer screening, early diagnosis important to successful treatment
- Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Know the Risks and Warning Signs of This Rare, Fast-Growing Cancer
- Doctors Share When Breast Pain Is Normal (And When It’s Not)
- Woman diagnosed with both brain & breast cancer shares importance of getting checked
- Mom, 30, details symptoms of rare breast cancer that doctors misdiagnosed
- Jill Biden urges women to get mammograms or other cancer exams during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
- Better Ways to Support a Colleague with Breast Cancer
- Why more women are living with stage 4 breast cancer
- Black women face deadly racial disparities in breast cancer
World Menopause Day
Menopause is a point in time 12 months after a woman’s last period. The years leading up to that point, when women may have changes in their monthly cycles, hot flashes, or other symptoms, are called the menopausal transition or perimenopause. Despite effecting 50% of the population, menopause is understudied, womens’ symptoms are often minimized by providers and peers alike, and menopause is rarely accommodated in the workplace. Learn more about menopause below.
- Action Alert! October 18 is World Menopause Day – The theme this year is menopause and cardiovascular disease. Learn more about the relationship and how to observe here.
- Menopause 101 – Get up-to-date information on the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for menopause and perimenopause from the North American Menopause society.
- Menopause FAQ – Why do hot flashes happen during menopause, and how can you deal with them? Does hormone replacement therapy actually help with menopause? Get expert answers to these questions and more here.
- Patient Resources for Diagnosis and Treatment of Ovarian Cancer – The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) has the answers you need about managing side effects, getting the best care, new diagnoses, active clinical trials, and more.
- Free Online Community for Menopause – This group, moderated by the National Menopause Foundation, is free and just a few clicks away to giving you support.
- Prefer Print? Get the Menopause Guidebook – Fully updated with the latest guidelines on symptoms of menopause and issues of midlife women’s health, The Menopause Guidebook contains information on the most effective treatments for hot flashes, mood changes, osteoporosis, sexual health concerns, and more.
- Menopause Stories – Hear from other women about their menopause experiences.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- The North American Menopause Society Releases 2023 Nonhormone Therapy Position Statement
- Study Shows the Staggering Cost of Menopause for Women in the Work Force
- Your Menopause Survival Guide
- Healthy gut microbiome linked to greater bone density in older adults
- Mayo Clinic Minute: Breast health during menopause
- Menopause Hot Flashes May Indicate Higher Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
- The Law Needs to Talk About Menopause
- What’s in your gut could be aggravating your menopause symptoms
- New Evernow Report Highlights Ongoing, Unspoken Challenges People in Menopause Face at Work
- How to Prioritize Self-Care and Inner Kindness During Menopause
- Menopause symptoms: How to prepare for effects on your brain
- Do menopause retreats work — and why are people paying $15,000 for them?
- Hello! Magazine, Let’s Talk Menopause reconfigure the conversation for women
- Menopause transition impacts physiology during aging
- Menopause symptoms worsen as the number of hours spent caring for others increases, according to new research
- Researchers try to tease out possible ties between long Covid and menopause
- Government Commitment to Menopause Research? It’s About Time
Bone and Joint Health National Action Week
Bone and joint disease is a burden carried mostly by women in the U.S. For example: The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that half of all women over the age of 50 will eventually develop osteoporosis and that 80% of Americans with osteoporosis are women. And Arthritis, one of the most prevalent joint diseases, is vastly more common in women. Arm yourself with the knowledge to keep your bones and joints healthy below.
- Action Alert! Oct 12 – 20 is Bone and Joint Health National Action Week! – Bone and Joint Health National Action Week is an opportunity to learn about conditions that affect the bones and joints and to share resources and information with your patients and community members. To observe, share some of what you learn below during the week with friends and family.
- An Overview of the Most Common Bone and Joint Diseases – US News’s patient guide.
- Bone Health FAQ – What causes osteoporosis or osteopenia? Are my bone health medications safe? Do I have to worry about bone disease if I am healthy and exercise? Get answers to these questions and more from American Bone Health.
- Bone and Joint Health Practical Resources – Including a risk factor calculator, help line, and a guide for the newly diagnosed.
- Everything You Need to Know About Preventing Fractures – The Bone Health & Osteoporosis Foundation gives a holistic overview.
- Arthritis 101– The basics on the most common joint disease from the Arthritis Foundation.
- Arthritis Resources – Evidence-based recommendations from the US Department of Health and Human Services; Arthritis help line, stories, and more.
- Bone and Joint Health Stories – Hear from people living with Osteoporosis and Arthritis.
Further Reading - News and Recent Articles
- Gut biome and bone density connection found.
- The best supplements for joint pain, knee support, and arthritis.
- Healthy gut microbiome linked to greater bone density in older adults
- Does Medicare Cover Bone Density Testing?
- 4 Foods And Ingredients That Have A Negative Impact On Bone Density
- What Is It Like to Get a Bone Mineral Density Scan?
- Improvements made in technology measuring bone health
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
According to the National Library of Medicine, as many as one in four women will be victims of domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence) at some point in their lives. Domestic violence isn’t just physical; it can be emotional, mental, technological, or financial. Learn more below.
- Action Alert! October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Learn how to observe here.
- Domestic Violence 101 – The latest on DV definitions, signs, and who is affected from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).
- Domestic Violence Incident Statistics for 2023 – Both national and state-by-state numbers.
- A Comprehensive List of Domestic Violence Resources – Trusted organizations and resources based on needs/demographics, compiled and updated by NCDAV.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline – Now also accepting text/SMS.
- Plain-Language Legal Information for Victims of Domestic Violence – Compiled by lawyers who specialize in these issues.
- Resources for Men Who Want to Be Part of Preventing DV and Fostering Healthy Relationships –A Call To Men is one of the first organizations of its kind.
- Domestic Violence Survivor Stories – Hear from people who have been there and come out the other side. People like Leigh, Kathryn, and Lorel.