Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Many of you are probably already aware but October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Whilst my close family hasn't been affected by breast cancer, we have been affected by other forms of cancer, and it sucks! We all know what breast cancer is, but did you know

• About 1 in 8 women in the United States (between 12 and 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
• In 2010, an estimated 207,090 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 54,010 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
• About 39,840 women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2010 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1991. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
• About 70-80% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.
• The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).
• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20-30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.

Ladies please do a self examination EVERY MONTH! Early detection is KEY to the increased survival rates from this cancer! Also if you are of appropriate age please get a mammogram!

let's stay healthy everyone!

Di