World Breast Cancer Research Day

At 12% of all cases worldwide, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer throughout the globe.

Since 2021, August 18th has been known as World Breast Cancer Research Day. While October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and gains widespread attention each year, this is the day to recognize the life changing advancements in breast cancer research.  The 18th was chosen to represent that 1 in 8 women and 1 in 833 men will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. 

Milestones in breast cancer research include:
1882: The first radical mastectomy was performed by William Halsted, becoming the standard operation to treat breast cancer well into the 20th century.
1895: The first X-Ray was taken. 
1898: The fist step to radiotherapy is made, as Marie and Pierre Curie discover the radioactive elements radium and polonium. 
1932: The standard method of performing mastectomies is updated using a less disfiguring process. 
1937: A combination of surgery and radiation therapy are used for the first time, sparing patients from losing the entire breast.
1978: Antiestrogen drug, Tamoxifen is approved by the FDA for use in breast cancer treatment.  This is the first selective estrogen receptor modulator drug to be approved.
1984: The HER2 gene is discovered in rats and linked with a more aggressive form of breast cancer when overexpressed in humans.
1988: The hereditary link was made for some forms of early onset familial breast cancer.
1990: The BRCA1 gene mutation was discovered.
2008: Avon launched The Army of Women.  It gained 264,000 members within one month!
2013: The four major subtypes of breast cancer were defined as: 

• HR+/HER2- or luminal A
• HR-/HER2- or triple negative
• HR+/HER2+ or luminal B
• HR-/HER2+ or HER2 enriched

2021: World Breast Cancer Research Day is founded.
2023: The Army of Women rebrands as Love Research Army to become more inclusive of those wanting to take part in the research. 

Visit https://worldbreastcancerresearchday.org#about for more information!