The Richmond Ambulance Authority has teamed up with the American Cancer Society to help raise awareness for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the month, staff members are sharing why they’re raising awareness. RAA employees, friends and families are also participating in the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers. Currently, the average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 12%. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer. This also means there is a 7 in 8 chance she will never have the disease.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women (only lung cancer kills more women each year). The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 38 (about 2.6%).
Death rates from female breast cancer dropped 40% from 1989 to 2016. Since 2007, breast cancer death rates have been steady in women younger than 50, but have continued to decrease in older women.
These decreases are believed to be the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments.
Finding breast cancer early and getting state-of-the-art cancer treatment are the most important strategies to prevent deaths from breast cancer. Breast cancer that’s found early, when it’s small and has not spread, is easier to treat successfully. Getting regular screening tests is the most reliable way to find breast cancer early. The American Cancer Society has screening guidelines for women at average risk of breast cancer, and for those at high risk for breast cancer.
For more information visit the American Cancer Society’s website at cancer.org
