These Are the Most Common Side Effects of Breast Cancer Survival in Idaho

October was Breast Cancer Awareness month, and we shared a variety of statistics and facts about breast cancer in Idaho. Breast cancer is a disease that affects people in different ways, at different times in their lives, and doesn’t start or end with the diagnosis.

Breast cancer can be a hidden ailment that is only discovered by an advanced medical screening, or it can be deadly when not discovered soon enough. Even following a diagnosis, treatment, and a doctor’s note stating the cancer is gone, the disease can have long-lasting effects on each individual.

What Side Effects Do Most Idaho Breast Cancer Survivors Experience

While breast cancer can be deadly, especially if not detected early, it is also survivable for many. The breast cancer mortality rate in Idaho is slightly higher than the national average at 17.9 percent, which is down from 21.3 percent in 2012. The 5-year survival rate for cancer caught early is around 98 percent for Idaho women.

Following a diagnosis and treatments, what can survivors expect to experience? Side effects come in many forms, including physical, emotional, social, and monetary. These are eleven of the most common long-term effects survivors reported following treatment.

Idaho ranks, statistically, low in breast cancer awareness and early detection. A trend that seems to be growing in younger women. But Idaho does require advanced screening coverage for women who are considered high-risk for the disease.

Experts are aware of the side effects and are working to understand them better to help determine the benefits and risks of treatments on each individual. Learn more about breast cancer in Idaho below.