It's Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Some info for you..

Breast Cancer Awareness Information

What is Breast Cancer?

Like all parts of your body, the cells in your breasts usually grow and then rest in cycles controlled by the nucleus. The nucleus is like the control room of each cell. When your genes are in good working order, they keep cell growth under control. However, when your genes develop an abnormality, they sometimes lose their ability to control the cycle of cell growth and rest. Breast cancer is an uncontrolled growth of breast cells.
How Breast Cancer Happens. Breast Cancer.org: http://www.breastcancer.org/cmn_und_idx.html © 2006 breastcancer.org™

Risks:
Everyone is at risk for getting breast cancer, and the risk increases with age. With a life expectancy of 90 years, there is a 14 percent risk. Keep in mind on the flip side there is an 86% chance that you won’t be diagnosed.

Maintaining good health practices and being aware of prevention methods can reduce your risk further.

Tangible ways to reduce your risk? Refrain from smoking
Increase in exercise
Including more fruits and vegetables in
your diet
Lowering alcohol intake
Genetics
Inheritable breast cancer stems from an abnormality of the Breast Cancer gene BRCA1 and BRCA2, which regulates growth of breast cells. BRCA1 And BRCA2 abnormalities account for 10% of diagnosed breast cancer cases. Most women who have abnormal BRCA1 and 2 genes have family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer. However, it is important to note that many women are diagnosed with Breast Cancer without BRCA1 and 2 abnormalities.

Environment
Deodorant/Antiperspirant: Recently researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle conducted a scientific study on the possible link between breast cancer and deodorant or antiperspirant use. They studied more than 1,600 women and found no direct link to breast cancer and deodorant use.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, October 16, 2002

Stress: There are many different conclusions as to whether stress is a factor increasing breast cancer risk. Dutch researchers recently did a meta-analysis (combining the results of a group of studies) to find links between stress and breast cancer. By looking at stress factors including death in the family, change in financial situation, loss of job and etc and found no link between having a stressful event and increased risk of developing breast cancer.
International Journal of Cancer, December 20, 2003S. Duijts et alhttp://www.breastcancer.org/research_stress.html

Statistics:

From American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/stt/stt_0.asp

Cancer Facts and figures for 2006

Estimated Breast Cancer New Cases: Women: 212,920 Men: 1,720 Both: 214, 640

Estimated Deaths (rate per 100,000): Women: 40,970 Men: 460 Both: 41,430

Cancer Facts and Figures for African Americans 2005-2006

African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers.

Number of Deaths from Cancer 2001:

African American: 62, 166 Whites: 479, 647

Rates per 100,000 2000 US Population: African American: 243.8 Whites: 193.3

Incidents of Breast Cancer (per 100,000): African American 118.6 Whites: 143.2

Breast Cancer Death Rates (per 100,000): African Americans: 35.4 Whites: 26.4

Breast Cancer is the leading source of new cancer cases amongst African American women: 19,240 (29.9%) and is 2nd leading cause cancer deaths: 5,640 (18.4%). 30,140 African American Women died of cancer in 2001

For More Information Check Out:

Breast Cancer.Org: www.breastcancer.org
American Cancer Society: http://www.cancer.org
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer: http://www.komen.org

Live in California??

Sister Study: http://www.sisterstudy.org
Imani’s Breast and Skin Care, Oakland, CA
African American Community Health Group of the Central Coast,
Santa Cruz, CA

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I am doing the Avon Breast Cancer Walk! Wanna Donate? Got to my Avon Breast Cancer Donation Site:

http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR?px=2434270&pg=personal&fr_id=1286&s_tafId=154280