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October-Breast Cancer Awareness Month-Pink Ribbons, Feel Your Boobies, Know your Girls!

NFL players wearing Pink in Support of Breast Cancer Research. Although there are so many women affected by this horrific disease I do not personally know of anyone that it has effected. I did see the previews for the woman who documented her entire journey through Breast Cancer and her Recovery. An Episode of LA Ink with customers getting tats in remembrance of women that lost their battle with breast cancer. The most unique story I have seen about Breast Cancer Awareness was on the Today Show last year. Two 12-year-old boy scouts were helping educate woman how to examine their breasts and offer free breasts exams. I love that so many have come together to help with Breast Cancer research. Hopefully one day we will find a cure.

I personally have bought some merchandise with the pink ribbon logo. Although I do not personally know of any one with breast cancer or who has survived breast cancer I try to do a small good dead in contributing to the research aid. So what have you done? Check out this link to help aid in Breast Cancer Awareness! http://ww5.komen.org/



Facts and Figures about Breast Cancer

• Breast cancer incidence in women has increased from 1 in 20 in 1960 to 1 in 8 today (about 12%).
  
  
• In 2008, an estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, along with 67,770 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer. About 40,480 women are expected to die in 2008 from breast cancer, though there has been a decrease in death rates since 1990. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advancements, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
  
  
• For women in the United States, breast cancer death rates are higher than any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
  
  
• Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. More than 1 in 4 cancers are breast cancer.
  
  
• White women, over the age of 40, have a higher rate of breast cancer than African American women over the age of 40. However, African American women under the age of 40 have a higher breast cancer rate than white women under the age of 40, and are more likely to die from this disease.
  
  
• As of 2007, there are about 2.5 million American women who have survived breast cancer.
  
  
• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, and daughter) that has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 20% – 30% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family history of breast cancer.
  
  
• About 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations.
  
  
• Mutations of the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes are the most common. Women with this mutation have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, often at a younger age. An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations.
  
  
• The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older).