By Rep. Fred Upton -

We come together this October as a nation of loved ones, patients, and survivors in recognition of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  For more than 25 years, this month has served as an annual call for all Americans to take action in the fight against this life-threatening disease by promoting greater public awareness, information sharing, and regular clinical checkups.
 
While significant advancements have been made over the past decades in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer, it remains the most common cancer among American women, excluding cancers of the skin.  According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 1 in 8 women in the United States – roughly 12 percent – will develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. 
 
Like other forms of cancer, early detection is critical.  Women in their 20s and 30s should receive a clinical breast exam from a healthcare professional at least every three years; after 40, women should have an annual exam which includes a mammogram.  All women should speak with a professional to know their risk and receive more information.
 
As we celebrate the progress made, the numbers are still astounding.  ACS reports that about 226,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be announced in American women this year and nearly 40,000 individuals will die from the disease.  Even as death rates from breast cancer have declined since 1990, it remains a leading cause of cancer deaths in women, second only to lung cancer. 
 
Breast cancer is a disease that has touched virtually every single one of us.  Ensuring continued advancements in the research for all cancers must remain a national priority.
 
For more information on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month – including information from government and public service organizations – please go online to www.nbcam.org.  While we specially designate October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is an issue that we should work to raise awareness of all year round.

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