Health Education, Multimedia Development & Graphic Design
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation has created an online breast self-examination resource. This site provides breast self-examination instruction through video animation, audio clips and written directions in both English and Spanish.
Breast cancer can occur in both men and women, but is rare in men. If current breast cancer rates continue, one in eight women born today will develop breast cancer sometime in her life (1). Lung cancer is the only cancer to claim more female lives than breast cancer (2). The good news is that earlier detection and better treatment have helped to reduce the mortality rate of breast cancer over the past decade (1,2). Currently there are over two million breast cancer survivors living in the United States today (3). Thanks to millions of women’s health advocates around the world, breast cancer has come to the forefront of health concerns and advances in the science of treating and preventing breast cancer are made everyday.
Scientists at the National Cancer Institute and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) Biostatistics Center have developed a Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool. This Web-based tool allows a health professional to project a woman’s individualized estimate of risk for invasive breast cancer over a five-year period and over her lifetime (to age 90).
The biggest risk for breast cancer is age followed by a personal or family history of breast cancer (1,2). Other risk factors include, long menstrual history (menstrual periods that begin early in life and end late in life), having a first child after age 30, dense breast tissue, use of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapy, obesity, high fat diets, and lack of physical exercise (1,2).
Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and exercising on a regular basis are two simple ways to reduce your risk for breast cancer. Women of all ages should perform monthly breast self-examinations and should be sure to speak with their health care professional about any concerns or questions immediately. It is also important for women over 40 to have a mammogram and a clinical breast exam by a health care professional on an annual basis. Early detection of breast cancer can greatly increase a person’s chance of survival, treatment options, and quality of life (2).
www.dayofcaringonline.org
Day of Caring is a national program of locally-planned, volunteer-based, self-supporting
community events to educate and encourage everyone affected by breast cancer. Each of these
events consists of 3 parts: Seminars & Workshops, Resource Area, and a Fashion Show.
This site provides information on how to get involved in this program.
www.nabco.org
The National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO) is the leading non-profit information
and education resource on breast cancer in the United States. Information here ranges from "What
is Breast Cancer?" to getting treatment and living with breast cancer. The web site also
includes numerous features such as finding support groups, ordering books, and sending emails
to women as reminders for their annual breast exam.
www.komen.org
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation runs one of the most innovative grant programs
in breast cancer with a focus on advancing research, education, screening and treatment.
At this web site, one can read about research findings, and learn how to get involved in fund-raising
events such as The Komen Race for Cure® Series.
www.Y-ME.org
Founded in 1978, the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Foundation web site offers information to
those who are concerned about breast cancer and those who have been diagnosed with it. They
also maintain a toll-free number, 1-800-221-2141, to receive more breast cancer information
or support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
www.oncolink.com
- Breast Cancer
OncoLink was the first multimedia oncology information resource
placed on the Internet, and is provided by Abramson Cancer Center of the University of
Pennsylvania. This web site provides information on a variety of cancers and includes treatment
options, coping strategies, and recent findings that pertain to cancer.
Footnotes
1. http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type/breast
2. ACS. Cancer Facts and Figures. 2002.
3. http://www.nabco.org/images/myth_fact_new.pdf
4. ACS. Cancer Facts and Figures. 2002.
5. http://www.nci.nih.gov/cancer_information/cancer_type/colorectal
6. ACS News Today. Eliminate Colorectal Cancer Act Moves To The Full Senate. July 18, 2002.
7. Healthy People 2010. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
8. http://www.lungusa.org/data/lc/lcp1.pdf
9. http://www.lungusa.org/data/smoke/SMK1.pdf
10. Behind the Smoke Screen: The Facts About Tobacco use in Colorado. Colorado Department
of Health and Environment. 1999
11. ACS. Cancer Facts and Figures. 2002.
12. Questions and Answers About Early Prostate Cancer. Cancer Facts. National Cancer Institute.
1999
13. Questions and Answers About the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. Cancer Facts. National
Cancer Institute. 2000
14. Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT): Questions and Answers. Cancer
Facts. National Cancer Institute. 2001.
15. 5 A Day Program Evaluation Report. National Cancer Institute. 2000
16. http://www.usda.gov/cnpp/DietGd.pdf
This page reviewed and updated October 13, 2004.
Health information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for diagnosing or treating a health problem. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider.