The first-ever “State of Breast Cancer” report has been published by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, outlining progress, changes and current statistics of breast cancer. The Susan G. Komen is a global organization supporting breast cancer research and according to Time Magazine is currently the nation’s largest breast cancer charity.
Along with statistics and information about the disease and treatment approaches, the State of Breast Cancer report provides practical ways for people to engage in the breast cancer movement. An extensive breast cancer resource list is included, as well as a glossary of terms.
The report explores global advances and issues concerning ethnic, cultural and financial issues and their impact on patients’ ability to receive adequate treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, “African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.” The State of Breast Cancer report found that Washington D.C. has the highest breast cancer rate in the country where many African-American women in low income areas face great difficulty within the health care system. Long waits for follow up care and screening are major issues.
Since its inception in 1982, the Komen foundation has made breast cancer information more available to women. According to the National Center for Health Statistics about 70 percent of women over 40 received mammograms- up from 30 percent in 1987.
Events like their annual Race for the Cure help them invest nearly $1 billion dollars to fight breast cancer. “It’s a fabulous experience,” says Pamela Call chairperson of the foundation for National Charity League, Green Valley Chapter, a mother-daughter non-profit volunteer organization. Call, whose aunt died of breast cancer, says “its really honoring to see the people with signs on their back” remembering those lost to the battle of breast cancer. After first running in the race eight years ago, Call became interested in the positive message from the foundation. “The feeling at the race is an unbelievable, powerful feeling,” she says. Now serving in her third year as the chairperson she says the Komen foundation really “shows what the power of one can accomplish.”
Nancy G. Brinker founder of the foundation made a promise to her sister, Susan G. Komen that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.
Breast cancer is the most common among women in the U.S. other than skin cancer.
The ACS estimates 182,460 women will be found with invasive (most deadly) breast cancer in 2008.
This year alone about 40,480 women will die from breast cancer.
Like Brinker, Kathy Sharp, an operations controller in Las Vegas, lost her older sister Mary Olds to breast cancer. She found out she had cancer after returning home from overseas. Her husband was stationed in the Philippines on a military base with her family.
“She was always looking out for the greater good of people” she says of her older sister of eight years. “She’s the one that I would call.” Women who have a sister, mother or daughter with breast cancer are twice as likely to develop breast cancer than a woman who does not. Although the ACS says
70 to 80 percent of women who have breast cancer do not have a family history
There is no way to prevent breast cancer but there are several risk factors linked to the disease. The ACS suggests:
“If you avoid alcohol, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy diet you are decreasing your risk of getting breast cancer.”
“She was the healthiest one in the family,” says Sharp whose parents both smoked “why her?” The ACS says most women who do get breast cancer don’t have any factors. Regular mammograms are the single most effective tool for detecting breast cancer. Advancements in technology and early prevention and detection have contributed to the fight against breast cancer. Self-breast exam literature and fact sheets provided by the Komen foundation increase awareness.
Young women, like members of the National Charity League are getting involved and gaining knowledge too. Call says her involvement in NCL with her daughter has been nothing but “great fun.” This year the girls can sign up as “cheerleaders” at the race, encouraging individual runners. “I think it shows them role model strengths of women with great courage.”
College students are also volunteering for the Komen foundation. Susie Taylor, a 20-year-old sophomore at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas has organized a breast cancer centered event on campus. “The whole week is based around the cure,” says Taylor who has titled the event “Pink Week”. She plans to incorporate activities leading up to the race.
Taylor sought after Greek organizations, particularly sororities. “I wanted to do something that pertained to the women of UNLV,” she says “I wanted to bring the sororities together.” Even though this is Taylor’s first time being involved with the Komen foundation, breast cancer is nothing new. “It doesn’t register with you until you know someone,” she says after her best friend’s mother was diagnosed. “It really struck close to home.”
According to the Komen foundation 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer nevertheless the five-year survival rate is 98 percent-compared to 74 percent in 1982.
Most women with breast cancer will undergo some type of surgery following with either radiation or chemotherapy treatment. After Sharp’s sister had a lumpectomy she went through chemotherapy treatment to “make sure it was gone.” Throughout her treatment Sharp says the “love of her family” kept her going. “She wanted it to work,” she says “she was always a positive person.”
Cases like Sharp and her sister have brought attention to breast cancer scientists. The ACS is currently conducting a long term study to help find the causes of breast cancer. The Sister Study will follow 50,000 women whose sister -not themselves- have had breast cancer
Brinker’s promise to her sister has made vast improvements in breast cancer research. The ACS says,
“Breast cancer rates are going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and improved treatment.”
Part of bringing the sororities together includes the girls wearing shirts that don’t specify the chapters they belong to. “I hope this brings us all into reality…and we can just come together as women,” says Taylor of UNLV’s Pink Week. In order to bring the sororities together, the girls wear shirts that don’t specify their chapter affiliation. Taylor says she’s “expecting a really eye opening experience” at the race. “I hope we have a good time… I’d like to make this a tradition.”
Every year Sharp supports at the race admiring the many survivors racing for a cure. Sharp says if her sister was still alive she would be “helping to do whatever needed to be done” with the Komen foundation. “She would have been right there helping them.”
*The Pink Week booths will be set up on Monday April 28 and Tuesday April 29 in Pida Plaza from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
*The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will be on Saturday May 3 on Freemont Street in downtown Las Vegas at 7:00 am.
* I myself was able to honor 13 breast cancer survivors at the Emerald Dream Ball on New Year’s Eve 2007 in a Lana Fuchs Couture fashion show. The segment ” Top this Party” aired on the Lifetime Channel.
