October is
Breast Cancer
Awareness Month
Women’s Health Education Program
Activities-What you can do this month
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Schedule your mammogram. October 17 (the third Friday in
October) is National Mammography Day.
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Participate in the “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer”
noncompetitive walk, on October 26 at 9:00 am in Pennsauken,
NJ (www.cancer.org).
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Purchase United States Postal Service breast cancer postage
stamps in support of breast cancer research.
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Make and wear a pink lapel pin.
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View “Breast Cancer and Intimacy” on the Discovery Channel
on October 30 at 8:00 pm EST.
Statistics
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Of all women with breast cancer, 2-6% have the BRCA-1 and
BRCA-2 genetic alteration.
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Hereditary Cancer Syndromes (including BRCA-1 and BRCA-2)
account for 5-10% of breast cancer in the US.
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Approximately 80-85% of women diagnosed with breast cancer
have no family history of breast cancer.
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The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 8 women,
and the majority do not die from it.
Statistics
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Locally, from 1996-2000,
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The Average Annual Age-Adjusted Incidence Rates for
Philadelphia county was 5,735
The Average Annual Age-Adjusted Death Rates for
Philadelphia county was 1,659
Nationally,
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American Cancer Society estimated that in 2003 there will
be 211,300 females and 1,300 males found to have
invasive breast cancer in the US
An estimated 39,800 females, and 400 males will die from
the disease in 2003
Source: PA Dept of Health, American Cancer Society
Location, location, location
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The majority of cancers
are in the upper outer
quadrant of the breast
near the axilla. Only 5%
are in the lower inner
quadrant.
Racial differences in breast cancer
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African American
women present with
more advanced
disease.
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Factors that may be
related to this include:
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Socioeconomic
factors
Cultural differences
and racism
Genetic
predisposition to
more aggressive
disease.
Incidence of Breast Cancer in all women and in
women with the BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 gene
mutations:
Age
All Women
BRCA-1/
BRCA-2Carriers
25
1 in 19,608
30
1 in 2,525
35
1 in 622
40
1 in 217
0.5%
16%
45
1 in 93
1.0%
42%
50
1 in 50
2.0%
59%
55
1 in 33
3.0%
72%
60
1 in 24
4.2%
77%
65
1 in 17
5.9%
80%
70
1 in 14
7.1%
82%
75
1 in 11
9.1%
84%
90 (lifetime)
1 in 8
12.0%
87%
Source: NCI Surveillance Research Program
Recommended Breast Cancer
Screening Varies
Organization
Recommendation
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and
American College of Physicians
MMG every 1-2 years from age 40
American Medical Association
MMG every year from age 40
American Academy of Family Physicians
(AAFP)
MMG every 1-2 years from age 50
American College of
Obstetrician/Gynecologists (ACOG)
age 50
American College of Radiology/ American
Cancer Society (ACR/ACS)
MMG every year from age 40
Canadian Task Force in Preventive
Healthcare
MMG every 1-2 years from age 50
MMG = mammography
Organizations
American Cancer Society (800) ACS-2345
National Cancer Institute (800) 4-CANCER
Y-ME National Breast Cancer (800) 221-2141
Organization
Encore Plus Program of the (800) 953-7587
YWCA
National Comprehensive Cancer (888) 909-6226
Network
National Breast Cancer Coalition (202) 296-7477
For more information
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For Professionals: case-based modules
http://depts.washington.edu/uwcoe/profed/index.html
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For free or low-cost mammograms and Pap test in
Pennsylvania, or other low-cost cancer screening and services,
call (800)4-CANCER (*age and income requirements vary).
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For local cancer support,
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www.lookgoodfeelgood.org for time and location
www.blackwomenshealthproject.org, for resources and services