NBCF

National Breast Cancer Foundation's mission is to provide help & hope to those affected by #breastcancer through #earlydetection, education, & support services.

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This month and every month, remind the men in your community to prioritize their health—including their breast health. Breast cancer in men is usually detected as a hard lump (with or without pain, feels like a knot or hard pebble) underneath the nipple and areola, which is often found by men while in the shower. Other common symptoms include:

👉 Pain in the nipple or breast area
👉 Changes to the breast skin, including dimpling, puckering, or redness
👉 Change in the breast shape or size
👉 Nipple discharge
👉 A rash or a sore on the nipple or areola
👉 Nipple turning inward (inverted nipple)

If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact a healthcare professional immediately. Early detection of breast cancer increases treatment options and often reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer for men and women alike. #MensHealthMonth

Learn more: https://t.co/1hLjAp29rT

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"When I found that lump, I called my doctor. The diagnosis was Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer. Except I'm a man. And that made it rare.” - Richard

This Men's Health Month, we're sharing an important message from our friend, marathon enthusiast, and male breast cancer survivor Richard. In 2024, after dismissing initial symptoms (a flattened nipple and a cyst), Richard found a lump and called his doctor. He received his official diagnosis and a treatment plan: chemotherapy followed by surgery and radiation. Still, he wanted to continue exploring his options and found that he was eligible to participate in a clinical trial at his treatment center. He recalls:

"I became participant number nine [in the clinical trial], and that decision gave me clarity, direction, and purpose. I wasn't just benefiting from the research. I became the research. It turned my breast cancer nightmare into an adventure, and it gave me something else, too. It gave me the chance to live a normal life during treatment. I kept running, even completing four marathons during treatment.

Breast cancer in men is rare. Roughly 1% of all breast cancer cases. Most men don't even know they can get it and wait too long to be checked. Awareness is needed to save these men's lives, like it's saving mine."

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@BUKnights @BellarmineLax @DonateLife Incredible! We're so grateful. 💗

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@NolaQueenRell Thank you so much for your support! 💗

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We recently sat down with our friends at https://t.co/3Ed2WHzQ2P to share more about how NBCF supports the breast cancer community. Thanks to our partnership with Vanlife, we can reach even more individuals impacted by breast cancer! Learn more about our partnership at https://t.co/0K6ptjsHef 💗

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As the school year comes to an end, we're giving a shoutout to all the students who raised funds for NBCF through our Pink Points Platform, like our friend and new high school graduate Bianca! 💗

Bianca knew she wanted to support a cause close to her heart (both her grandmother and great-grandmother were breast cancer survivors). After learning about NBCF, she quickly got involved by hosting a fundraising event and donating proceeds from her baked goods business @sprinklesforhope to NBCF. She shares this advice for other students who want to get involved:

"Don't be afraid to reach out to NBCF; they will help you with any questions you have. There are so many ways to go about making a fundraiser. I think it is a great way to involve younger generations in a disease that affects so many."

Learn more about our Pink Points Platform: https://t.co/7c5fP9QZd0

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3,000 HOPE Kits packed! 💗 Thank you to everyone who joined us earlier this month for our HOPE Kit Community Packing Party. We had a great time seeing everyone come together to support those facing breast cancer. Huge thank you to our partners who contributed items to these HOPE Kits: @crownpack, Amerisource Custom Packaging, @tradmedicinals, @Aveneusa, @Natural_Life, @swiglife, Madame Madeline Lashes, @myearthbreeze, @DrDansLipBalm, Prime Prometics, @remedynails, Happy Curves, Lemonhead

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Read more of Shelly's story: https://t.co/IuvBIGTNZF

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This #AANHPIMonth, we're sharing a story from our friend and breast cancer survivor, Shelly. 💗 In 2024, Shelly performed a breast self-exam in the shower and felt a lump. After some appointments and tests, including a mammogram and ultrasound, she received her diagnosis: Stage 2B invasive ductal carcinoma with lymph node involvement.

Shelly had the support of her husband, parents who flew in from the Philippines, church family, and her NBCF-funded patient navigator, Allie.

Allie supported Shelly not just medically but also emotionally and practically, providing her with a comprehensive medical binder to help her organize appointments, medications, records, and notes. She also helped prepare Shelly for chemotherapy, telling her what to expect and ensuring she had the tools she needed to feel ready

Once treatment began, Allie's support went far beyond paperwork as she helped Shelly access wigs and head coverings, introduced her to their resource center's lending library, which includes cookbooks tailored for cancer treatment nutrition, and checked in with her regularly. Shelly recalls:

"I am so grateful that I have family here and in the Philippines, friends, church family, medical group, and Allie, who are praying, encouraging, and supporting me all the way until now.

I knew that I needed to face the reality that I have cancer. I had to have faith that I would get better. My husband and I never stopped praying for God to lead us to all the medical people who would help us get through this.

In this journey, I feel like I am not alone. Miracles happen every day. God uses all these people in my life as instruments to know that life is beautiful despite the circumstances."

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As an international student, Joy was not eligible for many forms of assistance when it came to the cost of treatment, which led to food and financial insecurity for her and her mother. Fortunately, Joy's hospital was a partner in NBCF's Patient Relief Program, which provides eligible breast cancer patients with financial resources to cover groceries and toiletries, transportation to and from appointments, home utilities, and other cost-of-living expenses during treatment. This support helped Joy both financially and emotionally, allowing her to focus on treatment and recovery. Learn more about our Patient Relief Program: https://t.co/WISwdKagij

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"I want to encourage Asian immigrants who may feel fearful about breast health concerns. Being in a new country doesn't mean the experience will be worse. It's natural to feel fear when facing the unknown, but once we understand what we're dealing with, that fear can diminish and even turn into motivation to take care of ourselves. Cancer can be expensive and physically draining, but early detection and treatment are far better than letting it progress unchecked." -Joy

This Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month, we're sharing the story of our friend Joy, who was an international student at the time she was diagnosed with Stage 2 estrogen and progesterone receptor-positive (ER/PR+) invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). She shares:

"I wish I had known earlier the importance of doing regular checkups, especially breast cancer and cervical cancer screenings. I used to be very healthy, full of energy, and passionate about life and exercise, so I often ignored the need to go to the hospital for checkups. I was too confident in my own health. In traditional and more conservative Chinese culture, breast health and other women's illnesses are rarely discussed openly within families. Before my diagnosis, I knew almost nothing about breast cancer. No one in my family has had breast cancer, and my genetic testing shows it is not hereditary.

My hope is that everyone stays healthy and doesn't let financial concerns delay treatment. Start treatment early, and things will get better."

#AANHPIMonth #AAPIMonth

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10 common health screenings women should know (in English and Spanish) 🫶

This #WomensHealthWeek and every week, encourage the women in your community to prioritize their health. Refer to this chart for more information on important screenings to be aware of!

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Say hello to our friend Charmaine, breast cancer survivor and NBCF volunteer! Since 2022, Charmaine has brought a smile and enthusiastic energy to all her volunteer shifts. We love her warm hugs and positive spirit—it fills every room she steps into. This week, she will be receiving the Spirit of NBCF Award at our Rooted in Community Volunteer Awards. We can't wait to honor her and her heart of service for the community! #NationalVolunteerWeek #IGiveHope

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This #NationalVolunteerWeek, we're giving a shoutout to Mary and Alisha, two wonderful women who developed a meaningful friendship through their volunteer work at NBCF. They began their volunteer shifts as strangers, each driven by their personal connection to breast cancer—Mary's daughter is a survivor and Alisha's mother passed away from breast cancer. They quickly became volunteer besties, checking in on each other weekly and sharing moments of laughter and friendship when they're together. Witnessing these two become close friends has been such a privilege and motivates us to continue working hard to support women and families impacted by breast cancer. 💗 #IGiveHope

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Thank you, @TDFHereforGood, for naming NBCF as a 2026 Spring Grant recipient! This $15,000 grant will support our Metastatic Breast Cancer Retreats held in the Dallas area.

With the support from The Jalonick Family Memorial Fund of The Dallas Foundation, we can continue to provide valuable resources for those facing breast cancer and our Stage 4 community. 💗 Learn more: https://t.co/iDbWKWUCfd