Summary
Breast cancer and wellbeing are linked. Learn about breast cancer. Find out how you can get screened for breast cancer. Adopt lifestyle habits to manage your health. Demand that your elected officials support funding for research and for clinical trials. Call the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121.
Breast Cancer and Wellbeing
October is breast cancer month. Receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer can affect a person’s wellbeing and affect the wellbeing of their partner, their siblings, their children, their friends, their co-workers, and their neighbours. Let’s discuss breast cancer and wellbeing.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is cancer that is present in breast tissue. Breast cancer can be the primary cancer which spreads to other parts of the body. Most importantly, breast cancer can be detected and treated.
Breast cancer is the cancer most commonly diagnosed in women. Across the world, not just in the USA.
Don’t forget the men. According to the World Health Organization, 0.5% to 1% of breast cancer cases occur in men. Yes, men should be performing breast self-exams. Men who are at risk for breast cancer need to discuss this risk with their medical providers. Gender does not prevent some men from developing breast cancer. Period or no period (pun intended): men are at risk for breast cancer.
The Facts: Breast Cancer
The American Cancer Society shares statistics and treatment options about breast cancer and other cancers in the following document:
Cancer Facts & Figures 2025, American Cancer Society:
Breast Cancer: Screening
The American Cancer Society recommends that women be screened with a mammogram starting at 40 years of age if they are at average risk for developing breast cancer.
Persons with risk factors for breast cancer should consult their medical provider for further guidance.
Risk factors include genetics, ethnicity, older age, and access to health care services. Please consult the American Cancer Society’s website for more details:
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention.html
Breast Cancer: Stories of Dying and Stories of Surviving
Since 1989, breast cancer death rates have decreased by 44% in the USA. Research and clinical trials have been essential to discovering treatments and screening techniques which have contributed to the decrease in the death rate due to breast cancer. The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc, provides information and resources to help all of us in our journey to learn about, screen for, live with, and survive breast cancer. Learn about early detection of breast cancer for your wellbeing and the wellbeing of everyone who loves you and knows you. Check out the website of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc:
https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month/
The World Health Organization features breast cancer awareness resources with a focus on the fact that each person diagnosed with breast cancer brings a unique story to the family of breast cancer victims and survivors. Certain people carry genes which increase their risk for developing breast cancer. Genetic testing exists for those deemed to be at risk for breast cancer, based on their ethnicity or family background or both. Talk to your Women’s Health Provider about being screened for breast cancer and whether genetic testing is appropriate for you.
Promote Research and Clinical Trials for Breast Cancer and Wellbeing
Call your elected officials and demand that the federal government restore funding to research and to clinical trials. Demand that science prevail over the quackery of RFK Jr.
Capitol Switchboard: 202.224.3121
Under Donald J. Trump, funding has been eviscerated for clinical trials and research. It is clear that Donald J. Trump does not care how many people suffer and die from breast cancer in the USA. Tell your elected officials that you see Trump’s ruse: to kill the American people while he and his oligarch friends prosper.
Breast Cancer and Your Wellbeing
Any health condition may affect your sense of wellbeing. Breast cancer is no different. A diagnosis of cancer may affect your sense of wellbeing. Breast cancer and wellbeing are linked. If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, the wellbeing of your support network may also be affected.
Imagine that you cannot afford healthcare insurance. That is the reality for many people effective January 1, 2026. Imagine that you are not eligible for healthcare insurance coverage due to the discriminatory and small-minded beliefs of those who passed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” in 2025. That is the reality for many people in the USA in 2025.
Imagine being diagnosed with breast cancer. You may wonder: how long will I survive? You will likely want to know what treatments are available to you and if those treatments have side effects. Your mind may take you to darker places like whether you will survive long enough to attend your friend’s wedding or to visit friends in a different state or to witness the birth of a child or grandchild.
If you are having such thoughts, you can bet your bottom dollar that your loved ones are experiencing similar thoughts. Health conditions impact the wellbeing of the person diagnosed with them and affect the wellbeing of those who care about them.
What You Can Do: Breast Cancer and Wellbeing
Get screened. Talk to your medical provider and ask when you should be screened for breast cancer.
Work on your self-care. Eat a healthy diet. Pay attention to your sleep habits. Exercise. Remain socially connected. Stay away from alcohol. Avoid using drugs or seek treatment for drug use. Develop hobbies. Help charitable organizations. Take care of your community. Go outside and enjoy nature. Practice gratitude. Embrace being compassionate to other people.
Seek treatment with a mental health professional.
Call your elected officials and demand that they support the extension of the Affordable Care Act subsidies. Demand that they oppose any cuts to Medicaid. Demand that they oppose the changes to Medicare proposed in the OBBBA, which will reduce eligibility for Medicare and will stifle the access and benefits of Medicare Savings Plans (MSPs) for Medicare beneficiaries. MSPs help people in the lowest income groups with paying their healthcare insurance premiums and other out-of-pocket costs.
Capitol Switchboard: 202.224.3121
And, this impacts all of us. Medicare is the healthcare insurance policy for people over the age of 65 years old (and people who are disabled); into which working people pay; and which people expect will provide them with healthcare insurance after the age of 65 years old. The data in 2025 are cruel: at least 15% percent of persons over the age of 65 years old live in poverty. Eroding MSPs exacerbates the reality of poverty amongst our seniors.
Take-aways: Breast Cancer and Wellbeing
Breast cancer can affect wellbeing. We can take steps to manage our wellbeing in the face of breast cancer. Recall my previous posts in which I detail the variables affecting our wellbeing: healthy nutritional intake; sleep hygiene; exercise; social connectedness; gratitude; generosity; belonging to a community; mindfulness (contemplative techniques); engaging with nature; safe and sanitary housing and neighbourhoods; and having a meaningful day activity.
Stay informed and take action.
Call your elected officials and tell them: Enough is enough. Trump’s cruelty needs to be stopped. We elected our representatives in Congress to stand up for us, to stand up for “USA”. Tell them to do their jobs and to protect our rights and our lives, literally.
Capitol Switchboard: 202.224.3121
Music: Of Course!
I leave you to find some music to inspire you. Just take a look at the NPR article about the benefits of music for breast cancer survival:
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/nx-s1-5414500/music-therapy-cancer-patient-survivor
Moipei performing ‘Sunday in the Park’ (Sondheim)
Be well. Stay connected to people (not technology). Seek commonalities. Be happy.
Disclaimer: This post is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your mental health care professional team.
If you are thinking of hurting yourself or of hurting someone else, please CALL 9-1-1; CALL 9-8-8; or GO TO the nearest emergency room.
Selected References:
Annenberg School of Communication. (October 30, 2020). In Conversation with Emile Bruneau: Dehumanization. University of Pennsylvania. Accessed online on July 5, 2025, at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9991937/
Center for Medicare Advocacy. (July 24, 2025). Impact of the “Big Bill” on Medicare. Center for Medicare Advocacy. Accessed online on October 26, 2025, at https://medicareadvocacy.org/impact-of-the-big-bill-on-medicare/
Cutler, D.M. (August 28, 2025). The Worst Piece of Health Care Legislation Ever. JAMA Health Forum, 6(8). Accessed online on October 26, 2025, at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2838483
Greenberg, M.T. (March 6, 2023). Evidence for Social and Emotional Learning in Schools. Learning Policy Institute. Accessed online on September 20, 2025, at https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/product/evidence-social-emotional-learning-schools-brief
Herman, D., Benson, R., Gogulsetti, V. (August 12, 2025). The Authoritarian Playbook in Action: What Global Cases Tell Us About Trump’s 2025 Military Deployments. Center for American Progress. Accessed online on October 5, 2025, at https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-authoritarian-playbook-in-action-what-global-cases-tell-us-about-trumps-2025-military-deployments/
Mendez, M.F. (Mar 1 2023). A Functional and Neuroanatomical Model of Dehumanization. Cogn Behav Neurol, 36(1): 42-47. Accessed online on July 5, 2025, at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9991937/
Miller, M. (October 4, 2025). One Way the “beautiful bill” does touch Medicare. Retirement Revised (on Substack). Accessed online on October 26, 2025, at https://retirementrevised.substack.com/p/one-way-the-beautiful-bill-does-touch
National Council on Aging. (September 9, 2025). Poverty Among Older Adults Keeps Growing. National Council on Aging. Accessed online on October 26, 2025, at https://www.ncoa.org/article/poverty-among-older-adults-keeps-growing/
Noguchi, Y. (June 16, 2025). The doctor said ‘be happy’. Music therapy can help cancer patients do that. NPR (National Public Radio). Accessed online on October 26, 2025, at https://www.npr.org/2025/06/16/nx-s1-5414500/music-therapy-cancer-patient-survivor
Odede, K. (November 19, 2023). Kennedy Odede is Building New Communities Among Nairobi’s Poor. TIME. Accessed online on June 13, 2024, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv6rP-e1KuA
Pluta, A., Mazurek, J., Wojciechowski, J., Wolak, T., Soral, W., Bilewicz, M. (13 March 2023). Exposure to hate speech deteriorates neurocognitive mechanisms of the ability to understand others’ pain. Scientific Reports, 13 (article 4127). Accessed online on October 9, 2025, at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-31146-1
Posner, J. (July 16, 2012). Building Community: Jessica Posner at TEDxMileHigh. TEDx Talks. Accessed online on June 13, 2024, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0nM8l9qeGY&t=99s
Rao, P. (March 4, 2025). A Visual Breakdown of Who Owns America’s Wealth. Visual Capitalist. Accessed online on August 31, 2025, at https://www.visualcapitalist.com/a-visual-breakdown-of-who-owns-americas-wealth/
UN Innovation Network. June 15, 2023. The Neuroscience of Peace and Conflict. Accessed online on March 9, 2025, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxJPHLbipNM
Zaki, J. (May 14, 2020). Catastrophe Compassion: Understanding and Extending Prosociality Under Crisis. Trends Cogn. Sci, 24(8): 587-589. Accessed online on November 17, 2024, at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7221394/#:~:text=Extending%20Catastrophe%20Compassion&text=Floods%2C%20bombings%2C%20and%20earthquakes%20are,boundaries%20that%20typically%20separate%20people.
Nota Bene:
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