Advanced Hair Solutions Celebrates National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Progress and Challenges in Breast Cancer Detection

Significant Achievements

Since NBCAM began, mammography rates have more than doubled for women aged 50 and older, and breast cancer deaths have decreased. According to the American Cancer Society, the breast cancer death rate has dropped by 40% from 1989 to 2017, largely due to early detection and improved treatments (source).

Persistent Gaps in Screening

Despite these advancements, certain groups of women are still not taking full advantage of early detection methods:

• Women aged 65 and older are less likely to get mammograms compared to younger women, even though the risk of breast cancer increases with age.
• Hispanic women have lower mammography rates than Caucasian and African American women.
• Women living below the poverty line are less likely to have had a mammogram in the past two years compared to women with higher incomes.
• American Indians and Alaska Natives have not seen the same increase in mammography use as other groups.

The Importance of Routine Screening

"If all women aged 40 and older utilized early detection methods—mammography plus clinical breast exams—breast cancer death rates could drop by up to 30%," says a spokesperson from NBCAM. The key to effective mammography screening is consistency; a single screening is not enough.

How to Get Involved

For more information about NBCAM, visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation. You can also contact the following organizations for additional resources:

• American Cancer Society: (800) 227-2345
• National Cancer Institute (NCI): (800) 4-CANCER
• Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization: (800) 221-2141

The Role of NBCAM

The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program is dedicated to increasing public knowledge about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. The Board of Sponsors, comprising fifteen national public service organizations, professional associations, and government agencies, works together to ensure that the NBCAM message reaches thousands of women and their families.

Interesting Statistics

• Breast Cancer Incidence: In 2020, an estimated 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 48,530 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer (source).
• Survival Rates: The 5-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer (cancer that has not spread outside the breast) is 99% (source).
• Global Impact: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, with over 2 million new cases diagnosed in 2018 (source).

By continuing to raise awareness and promote early detection, we can further reduce the impact of breast cancer on women and their families.