October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC):
“Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women…
In 2006 (the most recent year numbers are available)—
- 191,410 women were diagnosed with breast cancer.*†
- 40,820 women died from breast cancer.*†
The good news, according to the American Cancer Society, is that “After increasing for more than 2 decades, female breast cancer incidence rates decreased by about 2% per year from 1998 to 2007. This decrease was seen only in women aged 50 or older, and may be due at least in part to the decline in use of hormone therapy after menopause that occurred after the results of the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. This study linked the use of hormone therapy to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart diseases.”
But ACS also has good news for younger women: “Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1990, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment. At this time there are over 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.”
Charron Walker is living proof that early detection makes a difference. Her mother died from breast cancer, and Charron was diagnosed at age 36. Read her story:
If you haven’t scheduled your annual mammogram, stop fooling around…do it today!!
