National Philanthropy
This year, more than 211,300 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 39,800 women will lose their lives. Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in America; however, early detection and prompt treatment can significantly reduce the suffering and fatalities caused by this disease. Alpha Kappa Delta Phi proudly promotes our National Philanthropy as Breast Cancer Awareness, a project which is dedicated to increasing public knowledge and early detection.
Our campaign includes raising funds on a national level to contribue to a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating breast cancer through the sale of the popular Pink Ribbon pins and dedicating at least one service event per chapter/colony to breast cancer awareness.
Philanthropy Background
In 1998, alpha Kappa Delta Phi launched its first-ever National Service project. Through our 22 chapter effort, we dedicated the year of 1998-99 to Breast Cancer Awareness by educating ourselves, our college campuses, and our communities. This past Year 2008-2009 we were proud to achieve the following accomplishments:
Know the Facts about Breast Cancer
Approximately 42,200 deaths will occur in women from breast cancer in 2000.
One in eight women or 12.6% of all women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.
Every 13 minutes a woman dies of breast cancer.
Approximately 1400 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in men in 2000 and 400 of those men will die.
More than 1.7 million women who have had breast cancer are still alive in the United States.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54, and the second cause of cancer death in women 55 to 74.
Seventy-one percent of black women diagnosed with breast cancer experience a five-year survival rate, while eighty-six percent of white women experience five-year survival.
The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
Risks for breast cancer include a family history, atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last ten years of oral contraceptives, and daily consumption of alcohol.
Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.
Over eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.
Oral contraceptives may cause a slight increase in breast cancer risk; however 10 years after discontinuing use of oral contraceptives the risk is the same as for women who never used the pill.
Estrogen replacement therapy for over 5 years slightly increases breast cancer risk; however the increased risk appears to disappear 5-10 years after discontinuing the use of estrogen replacement therapy.
You are never too young to develop breast cancer! Breast Self-Exam should begin by the age of twenty.
Breast Cancer Awareness Resources
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: http://www.komen.org
National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations: http://www.nabco.org
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: http://www.nabcom.org
American Cancer Society: The Breast Cancer Resource Center : http://www.cancer.org
Race for the Cure: http://www.raceforthecure.com
More information on Breast Cancer: http://www.breastcancerinfo.com