As you know October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. For many of you there is someone you know who has or will be impacted by breast cancer. Take the time out to read these important facts. My Aunt Leslie is living proof breast cancer can be beaten! To this day I still wear my original Susan G. Komen, Share Beauty. Spread Hope bracelet.
For those of you who know my aunt I am probably going to get a swift kick in the butt for talking about her. I don't care it is worth it! She's a pink rockstar! (Seriously, she owns more pink than ANYONE!)
Love you Leslie!
After reading the 2008 Breast Cancer Facts, take the time to visit the Susan G. Komen link below and make a small donation to help fight this disease!
2008 Breast Cancer Facts - United States
- Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women.
- The most proven and significant risk factors for getting breast cancer are being female and getting older.
- An estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. during 2008.
- An estimated 1,990 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in the U.S. during 2008.
- An estimated 40,480 women and 450 men will die from breast cancer in the U.S. during 2008.
- In the U.S., a woman has a 1 in 8 (12 percent) risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime.
- One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes, and one woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the U.S.
- The five-year survival rate for breast cancer, when caught early before it spreads beyond the breast, is now 98 percent (compared to 74 percent in 1982).
- Approximately 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are due to heredity. The majority of women with breast cancer have no known significant family history or other known risk factors.
- A woman's chance of developing breast cancer increases with age. Approximately 95 percent of all breast cancers occur in women 40 years of age and older.
- Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths among women.
- The chance of a woman dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 33 (3 percent).
- African Americans have the highest death rate from breast cancer of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S.
- In the United States today, there are nearly 2.5 million breast cancer survivors - the largest group of cancer survivors in the country.
Education
- One in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
- Breast cancer knows no boundaries - be it age, gender, socio-economic status or geographic location.
- The greatest risk factors for breast cancer are being female and growing older.
- Early detection and effective treatment for breast cancer have been shown to improve survival.
- Making healthy lifestyle choices may reduce your risk of breast cancer.
- There are 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today.
- Breast cancer affects more than just the patient - co-survivors (friends, family and co-workers) need support too.
Be Aware. Take Action.
1. Know your risk.
- Talk to your family to learn about your family health history.
- Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of breast cancer.
2. Get screened
- Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at higher risk.
- Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk.
- Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at 20, and every year starting at 40.
3. Know what is normal for you See your health care provider right away if you notice any of these breast changes:
- Lump, hard knot or thickening
- Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
- Change in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin
- Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
- Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
- New pain in one spot that doesn't go away
4. Make healthy lifestyle choices
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Add exercise into your routine
- Limit alcohol intake
CREATE SELF-AWARENESS HERE
Helping you be self-aware,
Tyler English, NASM-PES, CPT
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