In October, ACOG Co-Sponsors National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 05 Oct 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) will again serve as a national co-sponsor for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). ACOG is proud to work with NBCAM and other organizations at the forefront of women's health and breast cancer research to offer educational resources and services to help women prevent, detect, manage, and treat the disease.

Today, there are 2.5 million breast cancer survivors, due in part to tremendous strides in the detection and treatment of breast cancer. Mortality rates for breast cancer declined by 3.5% per year from 2001 to 2004, with larger decreases seen in women younger than 50. However, in 2008, an estimated 182,460 women in the US will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and the disease will claim more than 40,000 lives.

"Breast cancer is the most common, and second most deadly, form of cancer in women," said ACOG President Douglas H. Kirkpatrick, MD. "Getting women in for mammograms and routine doctor visits are of the utmost importance. Encouraging women to focus on breast health during NBCAM may help women find cancers when they are the most treatable. Detecting breast cancer in the early stages, before it has spread to other parts of the body, can make all the difference."

Being a woman and getting older are the two main risk factors for breast cancer. Family history, personal history of certain cancers, no pregnancies or pregnancy later in life, menstruation before age 12, menopause at age 55 or after, obesity, alcohol intake of more than two drinks per day, and use of some types of hormone therapy (HT) can also increase a woman's risk. Women need to know their personal risk factors and know how they can reduce them.

"The decline in breast cancer death rates is great news, but there's still much work to be done," Dr. Kirkpatrick said. "Uninsured women are 30-50% more likely to die from breast cancer than women who have insurance. Sadly, disparities in the treatment of breast cancer and number of breast cancer deaths still exist among minority populations, particularly in black women. NBCAM is an excellent way to get women talking about breast disease and tuned in to their overall breast health."

ACOG is committed to providing updated information about breast cancer to women and practitioners. Women can access patient education pamphlets on mammography, detecting and treating breast problems, and fibrocystic breast changes on ACOG's website. ACOG also provides up-to-date practice recommendations to assist ob-gyns in treating breast disease and advocates for more breast cancer research and funding on a national level.

During October and throughout the year, the NBCAM website is a reliable resource for information on breast cancer, including information on prevention and detection; treatment options; clinical trials; and support for the newly diagnosed, those currently battling cancer, and survivors. The site also includes articles and recipes that highlight healthy living and eating and provides resources on low- or no-cost mammography screening.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is the national medical organization representing over 52,000 members who provide health care for women.