To show our appreciation for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) and all that it has helped to accomplish, we’d like to share this new infographic! Click on this thumbnail to see the full image:

Looking at the statistics for breast cancer can be scary. This disease is the second leading cause of cancer related death in women, and it’s estimated that nearly 1 in every 8 women will develop breast cancer over their lifetimes. Although, when you look at the big picture, there are a lot of positives to consider as well.

For starters, the death rates from breast cancer have been on the decline for the last two decades. The growing success of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has helped teach more women about effective screening practices, healthier lifestyle habits, and their available treatment options if diagnosed.

Brief History of Breast Cancer

Last year, we looked at how breast cancer may be one of the oldest forms of cancerous tumors known to man. This year, we wanted to remember some of the more important developments to take place in the last 40 years:

• Our Bodies, Ourselves is published by the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective in 1971. This one book helped to foster a new sense of control over one’s own health care for many women.
• First Lady, Betty Ford, is diagnosed with breast cancer in 1974. Instead of hiding her illness from the public eye, she chose to talk openly about her disease and inspired many other survivors to do the same.
• Susan Love publishes The Breast Book in 1990. Another very influential book that became a reliable source of information for an entire generation of women who were diagnosed with breast cancer.
• In what became a very eye opening act, the model Matuschka poses with her mastectomy scar exposed on the cover of the New York Times in 1993.
• Thanks to the growing prevalence of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the White House is illuminated in pink hues for the first time in 2008.
• Don’t forget that men can get breast cancer too! In 2009, the third week of October is officially established as “Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week”.

2013 Breast Cancer Statistics

• An estimated 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year.
• 39,620 patients expected to succumb to this disease in 2013
• As of this year, there are at least 3 million survivors living in the U.S.
• Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in American women (excluding cancers of the skin).
• Just about 1 in every 8 (12 %) of women in the United States will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.
• The annual cost of breast cancer is estimated to be $16.5 billion.
• From 1999 to 2005, the incidence of breast cancer for women over the age of 50 decreased by about 2 % annually across the country.
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates exceed every other type of cancer except lung cancer.
• Breast cancer mortality rate has been decreasing steadily since 1990, with an average decline of roughly 1.7% per year.

Breast Cancer Mortality Rates in the U.S.

The states with the highest breast cancer mortality rates:

• District of Columbia
• Louisiana
• New Jersey
• Maryland

The states with the lowest breast cancer mortality rates:

• Hawaii
• Colorado
• Arizona
• Idaho

Prominent Women who beat Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has affected many women over the years. While this disease has claimed many lives, there are many survivors who were able to beat their illness. The following women have survived bouts with breast cancer:

• Cynthia Nixon: Emmy award winning actress known for her role in Sex and the City
• Kylie Minogue: Pop singer known for hits like Locomotive, Confide in Me, and Can’t Get You out of My Head
• Edie Falco: Actress known for her starring roles in The Sopranos and Nurse Jackie
• Robin Roberts: Anchor of ABC’s morning show Good Morning America
• Melissa Etheridge: American rock singer-songwriter, guitarist, and activist

Charitable Organizations for Breast Cancer

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Living Beyond Breast Cancer
The Rose
Breast Cancer Connections
Young Survival Coalition
National Breast Cancer Foundation
BREASTCANCER.ORG
Lynn Sage Foundation
Sharsheret
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Breast Cancer Alliance
Casting for Recovery

Breast Cancer Fundraising Events

Pink Ribbonwalk
Virgin London Marathon
The Susan G. Komen 3 day walk
THE Breast Cancer Fundraiser
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
Bowl for a Cure

Interested in making a donation?

Can you picture a world where you no longer have to worry if you or someone important to you is going to be one of the more than 230,000 new breast cancer cases diagnosed that year? The following organizations are all going to be accepting donations throughout October:

Young Survival Coalition
National Breast Cancer Foundation
Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Breast Cancer Research Foundation

All donations made during NBCAM will help fund new breast cancer clinical trials, screening, treatment, and education programs.