October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to reflect, refocus, and mobilize. Breast cancer remains a significant public health concern, both nationally and here in Michigan. Awareness, screening, and access to care can make the difference between early detection and late diagnosis. Despite improvements in survival, the overall incidence rate of breast cancer has been increasing in recent years.¹ However, a positive trend is the continued increase in diagnoses at earlier stages.¹ As of 2020, over half of all breast cancer cases were diagnosed at a localized or in situ stage.²

Breast Cancer: The National Picture

• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women and a leading cause of cancer death, behind only lung cancer but ahead of prostate, colorectal, skin, and other cancers.^1-3
• For non-Hispanic Black women and Hispanic women, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death.³
• In 2025, an estimated 319,750 new cases of breast cancer and 42,680 deaths are expected.² Early detection dramatically improves survival, especially among those 45 years and older.¹
• The incidence of breast cancer has been increasing by about 1% per year, thought to be linked to risk factors such as excess body weight, not having children, and having a first child after age 30.^1-2

Breast Cancer: A Michigan Snapshot

• In Michigan, about 9,900 residents are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and approximately 1,350 die from it, putting Michigan 10th in the U.S. for new cases and cancer deaths by state.^1-3
• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in Michigan, following lung cancer.^1-3
• According to MDHHS, between 70% and 75% of all breast cancer diagnoses in Michigan since 2011 were made at an early stage.⁴

Disparities & Barriers in Michigan

• As of 2022, 22.9% of Michigan residents aged 50–74 had not received a mammogram in the previous two years.⁴
• Overall, more than 22% of Michigan residents are without appropriate breast cancer screening.⁴
• Certain groups are at greater risk of dying from breast cancer due to delayed diagnosis or treatment. These include non-White populations — with Native American and African American women experiencing the highest mortality — along with people with low income, those without insurance, and individuals facing social barriers such as transportation, housing, or food insecurity.^1-2,4
• Access to high-quality screening and follow-up care is uneven. Underserved or rural areas may have fewer providers or longer travel times. For example, Michigan’s South-Central region has breast cancer mortality ratespercentage points higher than other regions.^2-4
• Cost remains a barrier for some, both for screening and diagnostic follow-up. Michigan has programs to help low-income or uninsured women, but awareness and access remain challenges.^3-5

Michigan’s Programs & Resources

Michigan offers several public health initiatives and support programs designed to reduce barriers and improve outcomes:

Program	What is Offered	Eligibility and Access
Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP)3-5	Free or low-cost mammograms, Pap tests, and diagnostic services (ultrasounds, biopsies, MRIs). If diagnosed, patients may qualify for a special Medicaid treatment program.3-5	Michigan residents ages 40–64 for breast cancer screening (21–64 for cervical), income ≤ 250% FPL, uninsured or underinsured.   Call 844-446-8727
Cancer Screening Project (CaSPr)6-7	Free coordination and navigation for breast (and other) cancer screening for people with HIV.5-7	Available statewide to those living with HIV.
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center5-7	Screening and prevention guidance, NCCN-based recommendations, risk assessments.5-7	By appointment; accepts most insurance, offers some financial navigation support.

Screening Guidelines & Best Practices in Michigan

• For women of average risk, the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center recommends annual mammograms beginning at age 40, with yearly clinical breast exams and ongoing risk assessment.^1-2,7-9 
• A Michigan Medicine research team estimates that breast cancer deaths among African American women could be reduced by 57% if mammography begins at age 40 instead of 50.⁹
• For women under 40, a clinical breast exam every 1–3 years is recommended, with more vigilance for those with family history or other risk factors.^1,3-6 
• Higher-risk women (family history, BRCA1/2, or other genetic mutations) may need supplemental screening such as MRI, starting as early as age 30.^1-4,10 

Why It Matters: Outcomes & Survival

• Early detection is associated with a nearly 99% survival rate when breast cancer is caught while localized (before spreading beyond the breast), both in Michigan and nationally.^2-4,¹⁰
• When detection is delayed, treatment becomes more complex, outcomes worse, costs higher, and quality of life often lower.

What You Can Do: A Call to Action for Michiganders

1. Know your risk factors & talk to your doctor.

Risk factors include¹¹:

• Family history of breast or ovarian cancer (especially a first-degree relative)
• A personal history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Genetic risks such as BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations or other less common inherited mutations
• Daily alcohol consumption
• Early menarche (before age 12) or late menopause (after age 55)
• Maternal exposure to DES (diethylstilbestrol) during pregnancy
• Any higher-risk history (may require earlier or supplemental screening such as MRI). Per the American Cancer Society, women with higher risk may need screening starting at age 30.

2. Schedule your screening if due.

The American Cancer Society screening recommendations for women at average risk:^11-12

• Age 40–44: option to start annual mammograms
• Age 45–54: annual mammograms
• Age 55+: option to continue annually or switch to every 2 years

If you’re 40–64 and uninsured/underinsured, contact BC3NP (844-446-8727) for free or low-cost screening.

3. Watch for changes in your breasts

Be alert to lumps, nipple changes, skin dimpling, discharge, swelling, or unusual pain. Don’t ignore symptoms, even after a recent “normal” mammogram.

4. Use state programs and resources

• BC3NP: Screening & diagnostics for eligible women^3-5
• CaSPr: Screening navigation for people with HIV⁵
• Local health departments: often offer mobile or free mammography events
• MyMichigan Mammography Fund¹⁴
• Call the Breast Health Coordinator at (989) 837-9054 for uninsured/underinsured eligibility

5. Advocate for equitable access

Support policies that expand coverage, reduce costs, improve transportation and insurance access, and strengthen screening resources in underserved communities.

Summary

Breast Cancer Awareness Month isn’t just symbolic in Michigan—it’s a call for real action. With nearly 10,000 diagnoses and more than 1,300 lives lost each year, we cannot afford complacency. The good news: many of those deaths are preventable with early detection, timely treatment, and access to care.

This October—and every month—let’s ensure every Michigander has access to screening, support, and accurate information. If you’re due, schedule that mammogram. If you know someone facing barriers, share resources.

Early detection saves lives. Michigan, let’s make sure it saves yours.

References

1. American Cancer Society, Key statistics for breast cancer. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/how-common-is-breast-cancer.html.
2. SEER*Explorer: An interactive website for SEER cancer statistics [Internet]. Surveillance Research Program, National Cancer Institute; 2025 Jul 2. [cited 2025 Oct 1]. Available from: https://seer.cancer.gov/statistics-network/explorer/. Data source(s): SEER Incidence Data, November 2024 Submission (1975-2022), SEER 21 registries.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Breast Cancer Statistics. Retrieved October 1, 2025, from https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cancer/statistics/index.html.
4. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). Michigan Cancer Dashboard: Female Breast Cancer in Michigan. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/communicablediseases/epidemiology/chronicepi/cancer-epidemiology/female-breast-cancer-dashboard.
5. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program (BC3NP) program overview. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/chronicdiseases/cancer/bc3np?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
6. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Cancer Screening Project (CaSPr). Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/chronicdiseases/cancer/cancer-screening-project.
7. Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Breast Cancer Detection and Prevention and Screening Guidelines. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://www.rogelcancercenter.org/breast-cancer/detection-and-prevention?utm_source=chatgpt.com. 
8. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). MDHHS reminds residents to participate in regular breast and cervical cancer screenings, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/inside-mdhhs/newsroom/2024/05/03/bc3np-program?utm_source=chatgpt.com.
9. Chapman C, Starting mammograms at 40 would reduce disparities in deaths for Black women, 2021. Retrieved September 29, 2025, from https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/starting-mammograms-40-would-reduce-disparities-deaths-black-women.
10. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics, Michigan Female Breast Cancer Dashboard. Retrieved September 29,2025, from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/communicablediseases/epidemiology/chronicepi/cancer-epidemiology/female-breast-cancer-dashboard.
11. American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Risk Factors you Cannot Change. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/risk-and-prevention/breast-cancer-risk-factors-you-cannot-change.html.
12. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Cancer Screening Project. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/keep-mi-healthy/chronicdiseases/cancer/cancer-screening-project.
13. American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Recommendations for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/american-cancer-society-recommendations-for-the-early-detection-of-breast-cancer.html.
14. MyMichigan Health. Affordable Mammograms. Retrieved October 2, 2025, from https://www.mymichigan.org/conditions-treatments/cancer/TypesofCancer/breast-cancer/get-your-mammogram/affordable-mammograms/.

Updated 10/15/2025