National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is upon us.  There is little doubt that most of us have known someone in our life that has been dramatically affected by this horrible disease.  According to Susan G. Komen’s research, the following are breast cancer facts regarding breast cancer:

• The older a woman, the more likely she is to get breast cancer.
• White women are more likely to get breast cancer than women of any other racial or ethnic group.
• African American women are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.
• Men can get breast cancer, although it is rare.
  • Less than one of every 100 cases of breast cancer in the U.S. occurs in men.
  • In 2008, it was estimated that men accounted for 1,990 cases of breast cancer
• In the U.S., only about 5 to 10 percent of all breast cancers occur because of inherited mutations.
• The 5-year survival rate for all women diagnosed with breast cancer is 89 percent.
  • This means that 89 out of every 100 women with breast cancer will survive for at least five years.
  • Most will live a full life and never have a recurrence.
  • Your chances of surviving are better if the cancer is detected early, before it spreads to other parts of your body.
  • In fact, when breast cancer is found early and confined to the breast, the 5-year survival rate is 98 percent.

If you have an opportunity to be a part of helping bring awareness and raise money for a cure for this horrible disease, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There is no better time than now to start being the change.  Below are some ways that you can get involved.

• Donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation
• Join a Race for the Cure.  Here is a link for the Race for the Cure in Dallas on October 17th.  You can search for your local race location through this link as well.
• Become an Advocate
• Volunteer with the National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Donate a Mammogram through the National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Visit the Pink Ribbon Shop

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Primary Source: Susan G. Komen