The Progress Behind the Pink: What’s Next in Breast Cancer Care

Over 1,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer today, and almost 400,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women, leading to almost 700,000 deaths annually.

Breast cancer awareness month began 40 years ago with the goal of educating the public about the impacts of breast cancer and the importance of early detection. The impacts of the education initiatives provided by breast cancer awareness month can be seen by the 44% drop in breast cancer rates since 1985. As one of the highest funded and media-covered women’s health issues, breast cancer awareness has brought  greater attention to other women’s health issues and it sets an example for the clinical outcomes that can come from sustained attention on a specific disease.  

Early intervention is essential — when caught in its earliest stages, breast cancer has a 99% 5-year relative survival rate. The current recommendation is that women are offered annual mammograms at age 40. Women with strong risk factors, such as a family history of breast cancer, may begin receiving mammograms between 25–30 years of age.

Recent groundbreaking Advancements Toward Women’s Health

1. The groundbreaking "TumorSight" Risk breast cancer tool has received FDA clearance for predicting the risk of cancer returning in women with early-stage, hormone-receptive positive, and HER2-Negative breast cancer, which accounts for approximately 74% of breast cancer diagnoses in the United States. The AI enabled technology relies on breast MRI scans to predict the likelihood of reoccurrence up to 10 years in the future.  

2. Knotted Knockers, initially a grassroots cause with a mission to give comfort to women undergoing mastectomies, and has since given away 200,000+ hand knitted prosthetics to breast cancer survivors. The organization relies on volunteers to make the prosthetics, which are then mailed to recipients for free. It also partners with medical providers to share as an option with their patients. If you are interested in volunteering, ordering or gifting a pair of knitted knockers, or are a healthcare provider interested in learning more, you can find information here: knittedknockers.org

3. Advances in liquid biopsy and breast cancer vaccines are opening new possibilities for personalized prevention and treatment. By detecting circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), liquid biopsies can help researchers monitor treatment response and identify emerging resistance. Trials such as SERENA-6  have demonstrated the benefit of adjusting treatment before clinical progression. Meanwhile, investigational breast cancer vaccines aim to train the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, with some approaches tailored to the unique characteristics of an individual’s tumor. Together, these developments could enable more timely treatment decisions and more targeted care, although further research is needed to establish their broader clinical use.

From advances in personalized treatment to the comfort of a handmade prosthetic, progress in breast cancer care takes many forms. The challenge is ensuring that this progress reaches the women who need it through affordable screening, timely diagnosis, accessible treatment, and support throughout recovery. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we recognize the researchers, advocates, healthcare professionals, and volunteers moving care forward—and the continued work needed to turn awareness into lasting, equitable access.

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