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Northeast News

This October marks 40 years of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a milestone that highlights both remarkable medical progress and the work still left to do — especially for families and survivors across neighborhoods like Historic Northeast.

Since the first national campaign launched in 1985, breast cancer survival rates have steadily climbed thanks to better screenings, public education, and new treatment options. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 517,000 lives have been saved nationwide over the past four decades. The five-year survival rate for women diagnosed with breast cancer has risen from about 75 percent in the early 1980s to over 90 percent today.

That progress is due in part to early detection — through regular mammograms and awareness campaigns — but also to medical advances like targeted therapies and improved hormone treatments. Researchers estimate that roughly one-quarter of the overall drop in deaths is due to screening, with the rest coming from better care.

Yet doctors are noticing a concerning new trend. Recent data from the National Cancer Institute shows that breast cancer, along with other types like colorectal and uterine cancers, is showing up more often in adults under 50.

The causes aren’t fully understood, but researchers are looking at possible links to diet, environmental exposures and changes to the body’s microbiome. What’s clear is that this shift challenges the long-held idea that breast cancer is mostly a disease affecting older women.

Public health experts say awareness among younger adults is now just as important — especially since early detection remains one of the strongest predictors of survival.

In Missouri, advanced medical services haven’t reached everyone equally. A recent study using Missouri Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data found that only 46 percent of breast cancer survivors statewide reported receiving complete survivorship care instructions after treatment.

Those who lived in cities or larger towns were much more likely to receive post-treatment plans — up to five times more likely — than patients in rural areas. These written care plans help survivors keep track of follow-up appointments, watch for recurrence and manage long-term side effects.

Missouri also continues to rank 10th in the nation for overall cancer death rates, according to the Department of Health and Senior Services. For residents in rural counties, the gap is even wider due to fewer medical specialists and longer drives to treatment centers.

Closer to home, local health providers and community clinics in Kansas City say awareness campaigns still make a difference. While mammogram access has improved, education about what happens after treatment remains uneven — especially for women without primary care doctors or stable health coverage.

Today, more than four million breast cancer survivors live in the United States. Many continue to deal with side effects of treatment, making coordinated follow-up care essential for long-term health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all survivors receive written care plans outlining their treatment history, follow-up tests, and healthy lifestyle goals — but nearly half still do not.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month turns 40, local advocates say it’s time to think beyond pink ribbons and walkathons. Awareness remains vital — but so does ensuring that everyone, regardless of age or ZIP code, has access to screenings, survivorship care and trustworthy information.

For Kansas City’s Historic Northeast and like communities, that means continuing to share stories, promote screenings, and make sure progress reaches every household. Because four decades later, the mission remains the same: saving lives through knowledge, prevention, and care for all.

Local Resources in the Kansas City Area

A number of local clinics, health centers, and hospital-based programs offer breast cancer screening, follow-up care, or survivorship support in or near Northeast Kansas City. (If in doubt, call ahead to confirm services, eligibility, or appointments.)

Tip: Most major centers in Kansas City participate in the Show Me Healthy Women program, offering free breast and cervical cancer screenings for uninsured or underinsured Missourians. Learn more at health.mo.gov/smhw.