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National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

It is estimated that more than 40,000 people will die from breast cancer this year. Early detection of breast cancer, followed by treatment, can save lives.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), a program designed to promote awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection. In conjunction with NBCAM, the third Friday in October (October 21, 2005) is designated as National Mammography Day.

Know the Facts About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women.
During 2005 an estimated 211,240 cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the US.
It is the second leading cause of cancer death, after lung cancer.
An estimated 40,410 women will die from breast cancer in the US in 2005.
An estimated 1,690 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.
An estimated 460 men will die from breast cancer in the US in 2005.

Risk Factors

It is estimated 82% of breast cancers occur in women age 50 and older.
The risk is significantly higher for women over the age of 60.
The risk increases for a woman whose mother, daughter, or sister have had the disease.
The risk is higher for women who smoke or consume alcohol, have insufficient physical activity and poor nutritional programs.

Early Detection

When breast cancer is diagnosed and treated early, suffering and the loss of life can be reduced. Women are encouraged to talk to their doctors about mammography which is the most effective method of detecting breast cancer. For most women, many organizations and physicians recommend annual mammograms and clinical breast evaluations beginning at age 40.

Statistics

Based on information obtained from the American Cancer Society, 2005, Surveillance Research, it is estimated there will be:

1,410 new breast cancer cases in West Virginia in 2005
270 breast cancer deaths in West Virginia in 2005
211,240 new breast cancer cases in the US in 2005
40,110 breast cancer deaths in the US in 2005

Resources

American Cancer Society
National Home Office
1599 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, GA 30329-4251
Phone (404) 417-5834
Fax (404) 417-5844
Contact: Annie Yoder
Email: annie.yoder@cancer.org
For Cancer Information
(800) ACS-2345
Website: www.cancer.org

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
409 12th Street, SW
P.O. Box 96920
Washington, DC 20090
Phone (202) 863-2528
Fax (202) 479-6826
Contact: Alice Kirkman
Email: akirkman@acog.org
Website: www.acog.org

American College of Radiology
1891 Preston White Drive
Reston, VA 20191
Phone (703) 648-8900
Fax (703) 264-5287
Contact: Pamela Wilcox
Email: pamw@acr.org
Website: www.acr.org or www.radiologyinfo.org

American Medical Women's Association
801 N. Fairfax Street
Suite 400
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone (703) 838-0500
Fax (703) 549-3864
Contact: Meghan Kissell
Email: mkissell@amwa-doc.org
Website: www.amwa-doc.org

American Society of Clinical Oncology
1900 Duke Street
Suite 200
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone (703) 299-1014
Fax (703) 299-1044
Contact: Jeannine Salamone
Email: salamonej@asco.org
Website: www.asco.org
www.plwc.org

CancerCare, Inc. - National Office
275 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10001
Phone (800) 813-4673
Fax (212) 712-8495
Contact: Ellen Coleman
Email: ecoleman@cancercare.org
Website: www.cancercare.org

Cancer Research and Prevention Foundation
1600 Duke Street
Suite 500
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone (703) 836-4412
Fax (703) 836-4413
Email: shanna.duncan@preventcancer.org
Website: www.preventcancer.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Program and Policy
Information Division of
Cancer Prevention and Control
4770 Buford Highway, NE
Mail Stop K-64
Atlanta, GA 30341-3717
Phone (770) 488-4751
Fax (770) 488-4760
Contact: Cherie D. Gray
Email: cgray@cdc.gov
Website: www.cdc.gov/cancer

National Cancer Institute
Office of Education and Special Initiatives
6116 Executive Boulevard, #202
Bethesda, MD 20892-8334
Phone (301) 594-8993
Fax (301) 496-7063
Contact: Margo Michaels
Email: micham@mail.nih.gov
Phone (301) 496-6641
Website: www.cancer.gov

Updated: June 4, 2007