| SURVIVORS A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer increases with age. In the United States, a woman has about a 12 percent, or 1 in 8, lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer accounts for more than 1 in 4 cancers diagnosed in women in the U.S. An estimated 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States. It is estimated that 40,480 women and 450 men will die from breast cancer each year. White women have a higher incidence of breast cancer than African American women after age 40. However, African American women have a higher incidence rate before age 40 and are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age. African Americans have the highest death rate from breast cancer of any racial/ethnic group in the United States. The disparity in breast cancer death rates between African American and white women began in the early 1980's, and by 2004, death rates were 36 percent higher in African Americans than in white women. African American women are less likely to survive five years than white women, 77 percent vs. 90 percent respectively. Currently, there are about 2.5 million breast cancer survivors alive in the United States today. To meet the demands for education about breast cancer in our community, we have provided many links under education to expand your knowledge and awareness of breast cancer. If you are currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer or have just been diagnosed, we have provided links, to the left, that provide an additional listing of agencies offering assistance and services nationally and locally.
AFTER TREATMENT
Regaining Emotional & Physical Strength
Once treatment is completed, many breast cancer survivors are faced with the task of regaining physical strength, emotional courage and returning to the life she knew prior to breast cancer. The Strength & Courage: Exercises for Breast Cancer Survivors DVD helps women achieve this goal. This instructional and informative DVD was developed by Dr. Sharon Cowden, a local pediatrician and breast cancer survivor, and Janette Poppenberg, a Health Fitness Specialist certified by the American College of Sports Medicine. To read more and order your copy of this DVD click here. | |
