HEALTH AWARENESS

Early Detection Of Breast Cancer Key For African-American Women

(NAPSM)-Although breast cancer continues to impact people from all backgrounds, there are significant differences within the mortality rates amongst racial groups. Thanks to improvements in early detection and treatment, breast cancer deaths among all women have steadily declined since 1991. However, African-American women still have a higher breast cancer death rate than white women even though they develop breast cancer less often. And, while 90 percent of white women diagnosed with breast cancer survive for at least five years, only 77 percent of black women survive for that long.

A recent study by the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center gives a possible explanation for why breast cancer is more deadly in black women: They are more likely to have tumors that do not respond to the hormone-based treatments that help many others with the disease. The new study also found that black women were diagnosed at younger ages-an average of 57 years old versus 62 for white women-and with more advanced disease: Only 29 percent had early-stage tumors versus 42 percent of white women. They also had larger tumors and more cell traits that are signs of a poor prognosis.

Recognizing the need to increase efforts to fight breast cancer among African-American women, Susan G. Komen for the Cure is launching its Circle of Promise, an unprecedented campaign to engage women in the African-American community to help end breast cancer forever by educating and empowering themselves and other black women to take action that will save lives.

"In the past 25 years, Susan G. Komen for the Cure has changed the world, engaging millions of people in the breast cancer movement by educating and empowering them to take charge of their health," said René Syler, author, TV personality, and Circle of Promise co-chair. "Yet, breast cancer remains the most common cancer and second-leading cause of cancer deaths among African-American women. With this new initiative, Komen will be able to educate millions more African-American women about breast cancer and give them easy actions to start saving lives now."

The Circle of Promise campaign encourages black women to make a promise to take control of their health and to invite other women to do the same. It has three main goals: to get the word out about breast cancer's impact on the African-American community and how early detection and treatment can have a lifesaving outcome; give African-American women the opportunity to get involved in the global breast cancer movement by joining the Circle of Promise and serving as ambassadors within their local communities; and foster relationships within the African-American community that will help increase financial support for breast cancer research and additional community-related programs.

Benefits of Early Detection and Treatment

Getting tested regularly for breast cancer is the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from the disease-see your health care provider regularly and ask which screening tests are right for you. After all, screening tests can find cancer early, when it's most treatable.

Finding breast cancer as early as possible allows for more treatment options and greatly improves the likelihood that treatment will be successful. Many studies have also shown that early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year.

Women can practice breast self-awareness and utilize the following screenings: yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and clinical breast exams every year starting by age 20. Women can also practice monthly breast self-exams as a means to be aware of their breasts and any changes that may occur. It is helpful to keep a personal calendar to record your self-exams, mammograms and doctor appointments, and lead a healthy lifestyle through a low-fat diet, regular exercise and no smoking or drinking.

Overall, mammography is still the most effective screening tool for breast cancer today. To become more aware of your breasts, you can practice breast self-exams once a month. It's a practice women can use to become familiar with the way their breasts look and feel normally so they can recognize changes such as thickening, lumps, spontaneous nipple discharge, or skin changes such as dimpling or puckering-and report any changes they might find to their health care providers immediately.

In the past two decades, great improvements have been made in the treatment of breast cancer. As a result, the number of breast cancer survivors continues to increase.

How You Can Join The Circle

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has pledged to do its part to ensure that African-American women are empowered with the information and tools they need to take charge of their own health and serve as ambassadors in their local community.

Here's what you can do to help make sure the Circle of Promise is alive in your community and become active in the campaign to save our mothers, sisters, daughters and girlfriends from breast cancer!

• Join us: Register today and make your promise to take care of yourself and then become an ambassador to your community! We'll provide you with all the resources and tools you need to make changes in your own life and to share lifesaving messages with others.

• Spread the word: Invite your girlfriends, mothers, sisters, daughters and co-workers to join the Circle of Promise. Tell them you want them to join you in the fight against breast cancer's attack on the African-American community before it's too late.

• Be active in your commitment: Continue to fight with us by supporting public policy efforts, helping us to raise funds for research, and by making sure that the Circle of Promise is alive in your community!

To learn more about the Circle of Promise campaign, including early detection and treatment options and how you can make your promise, visit www.komen.org/circle or call 1-800 IM AWARE (1-800-462-9273).