In 2022, more than 2.3 million women around the world were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 670,000 died from the disease (WHO, 2023). By 2050, the number of new cases is projected to rise by 38%, and deaths by 68%, with low-income countries shouldering the greatest burden (Global Cancer Observatory, 2022).

As a breast surgeon and public health researcher, I’ve spent my career focused on the traditional tools of cancer prevention: early detection through screening, healthy diet and exercise, avoiding smoking and alcohol. But a growing body of evidence points to another, less visible risk: the environment around us.

As a breast surgeon, I see women every week, many in their 20s and 30s, who are scared, confused, and often anxious about one thing: breast pain. Breast pain (mastalgia) affects more than 70% of women at some point in their lives (1). It can disrupt sleep, exercise, intimacy, and mental health. And yet, it is one of the most under-discussed and under-researched aspects of women’s breast health.