How Employers Can Support Breast Cancer Awareness & Early Detection

Be Proactive About Breast Health

How Employers Can Support Breast Cancer Awareness & Early Detection

Breast cancer awareness is about more than wearing pink. It’s about empowering employees with information, encouraging preventive care, and creating a workplace culture where people feel supported in prioritizing their health.

While breast cancer cannot always be prevented, understanding individual risk factors, recognizing potential changes, and following recommended screening guidelines can help support earlier detection and better health outcomes.

Why It Matters

Supporting breast health awareness can help employees:

• Become more informed about their personal risk factors
• Understand the importance of recommended screenings
• Recognize changes that should be discussed with a healthcare provider
• Feel more comfortable prioritizing preventive care
• Access health plan resources and support when they need them

Employers can play an important role by making preventive health information and resources easier to understand and access.

Help Employees Know What to Look For

Encourage employees to become familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and to speak with a healthcare provider about new or unusual changes, including:

• A new lump or thickening in the breast or underarm
• Changes in breast size or shape
• Dimpling, puckering, redness, or other skin changes
• Changes in the nipple, including pulling inward
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk
• Persistent or unexplained breast or nipple pain

Not every breast change is cancer, but unusual or persistent changes should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Five Ways Employees Can Be Proactive About Breast Health

1. Know Your Personal Risk

Breast cancer risk is different for everyone.

• Learn about your family health history.
• Discuss personal risk factors with your healthcare provider.
• Ask whether your risk may affect when or how often you should be screened.

2. Follow Recommended Screening Guidelines

Screening can help detect breast cancer before symptoms develop.

• Talk with your healthcare provider about when mammograms are appropriate for you.
• Follow screening recommendations based on your age and individual risk.
• Check your health plan for available preventive screening benefits.

3. Know What’s Normal for Your Body

Being familiar with your body can make it easier to recognize changes.

• Pay attention to changes in the breast, nipple, or surrounding skin.
• Don’t ignore a new or persistent change.
• Contact a healthcare provider with concerns rather than waiting for your next routine visit.

4. Support Overall Health

Healthy lifestyle choices can support overall well-being and may help reduce certain breast cancer risk factors.

• Stay physically active.
• Maintain a balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
• Avoid smoking and tobacco use.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Prioritize sleep, stress management, and routine preventive care.

5. Don’t Put Off Preventive Care

Busy schedules can make routine healthcare easy to postpone.

• Schedule annual wellness visits.
• Make recommended screenings a priority.
• Use available paid time off or wellness benefits for preventive appointments.
• Take advantage of health plan resources that can help locate providers or understand coverage.

What Employers Can Do

Organizations can help create a culture where preventive care is encouraged and supported.

Consider:

• Sharing breast cancer awareness and screening education
• Reminding employees about preventive benefits available through their health plan
• Providing flexibility for mammograms and other medical appointments
• Promoting Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and mental health resources
• Educating employees about leave, disability, and other benefits that may be available during treatment or recovery
• Supporting employees and caregivers affected by a cancer diagnosis
• Creating year-round conversations around preventive care—not just during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Key Message

Awareness is important. Action is even more powerful.

Encouraging employees to understand their personal risk, pay attention to changes, and stay current with recommended preventive care can make breast health a year-round priority.

By providing education, flexibility, and access to benefits and resources, employers can help employees feel empowered to take an active role in their health—at work, at home, and beyond.