On a national level, breast cancer
represents the second leading cause of cancer death for women, exceeded only by
lung cancer. According to the ACS (American Cancer Society), breast cancer
accounts for nearly one in three cancers diagnosed in American women. According
to the cancer society’s statistics about this year’s health expectations, more
than 180,000 women in the U.S.
will be diagnosed with cancer this year and close to 40,000 will die from it.
Breast cancer is one of the top leading
causes of cancer death worldwide, with an estimated 500,000 death annually,
according to the American Cancer Society. Almost 4,000 people are diagnosed
with cancer daily in the U.S. Cancer is more common as people get older. Cancer
is increasing in developing countries as people embrace habits linked to cancer
such as smoking and fattier diets.
Today, there are more than 2.5 million
breast cancer survivors in the United
States.
There are many events that are going to be
held in the U.S in October, as the month is slated as the National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month. These events are aimed to increase public understanding
of the disease that claimed the lives of so many people, including its
prevalence, approaches to screening and prevention, and new treatment options.
Thousands of breast cancer survivors,
friends and supporters of breast cancer research participated this year at the
15th annual Susan G. Komen northwest Ohio Race for the Cure to raise money for
cancer research. The race is expected to raise more than $3 million for
breast-cancer research and for local education programs, classes and medical
services. This action is organized each year by the Susan G. Komen Breast
Cancer Foundation, which was founded by Nancy Briker in 1982, in her sister’s
(Susan Komen) memory. Susan Komen suffered from cancer and died three years
after being diagnosed. Susan G. Komen
for the Cure sustains breast cancer survivors and tries to increase public
understanding of the disease.
If more money is available for medical
investigation (mammograms) in women which are suspects of cancer, they will be
diagnosed earlier and that will surely lead to a decrease of deaths from this
affection. It is important to note that breast cancer death rates have been
declining since 1990. The progress is mainly due to early detection and
treatment.
Programs should also focus on prevention
and screening, which are important steps in reducing a woman’s risk of
developing breast cancer. Access to current treatment information can help us
choose optimal care.
Studies show that people can rely on most
of the Web sites containing information about breast cancer. Researchers
determined that online info about breast cancer is more accurate than the
information related to other diseases.
According to recent studies, almost a half
of the women recently diagnosed with breast cancer search the Internet for
information about their illness. Many of them search the information before
even seeing a physician.
Understanding treatment options, accessing
new and innovative therapies through clinical trials, cancer screening, genetic
testing and prevention are essential cancer-fighting tools.
