One in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, and it kills more women than any cancer except lung cancer.

In 2007, the latest year for which statistics are available, 202,964 American women were diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,598 women died from the disease, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NCBAM) – held every October – is a time when thousands of events take place across the country to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to screening services. The NCBAM organization is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies.

NCBAM started in 1985 as a partnership between the American Cancer Society and the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries, which is now part of AstraZeneca, a company that manufacturers several breast-cancer drugs. From the beginning, NCBAM has promoted mammography screenings as the most effective weapon in the war against breast cancer.

Although the NCBAM organization recognizes that great strides have been made during the past quarter-century in the detection and treatment of breast cancer, its mission continues to be educating and empowering women to take charge of their breast health by:

• Practicing regular self-breast exams to identify any changes.
• Scheduling regular visits and annual mammograms with their healthcare provider.
• Adhering to prescribed treatment.
• Knowing the facts about recurrence.

No one ones exactly what causes breast cancer. But the disease is associated with the following risk factors.

• Increasing age.
• Genetics. Two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, significantly increase the risk. Women who have family members with breast or ovarian cancer may wish to be tested for these genes.
• Early menstruation (before age 12) of late menopause (after age 55).
• Dense breasts.
• Overweight and obesity.
• Use of oral contraceptives.
• Use of hormone replacement therapy.
• Alcohol use.
• Either not having children or having a first child after age 35.

Rarely, men also can get breast cancer.

Early signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in size or shape of the breast or discharge from a nipple. Two of the best ways to identify early breast cancer, when it is most treatable, are breast self-exams and mammography. Treatment options include radiation, lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Most NCBAM-associated events feature the pink ribbon, which has become the universally recognized symbol of breast cancer. This tradition began in 1993, when the founders of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation adopted the pink ribbon as its official symbol. The first use of pink ribbons, however, was in the fall of 1991, when the Susan G. Komen Foundation handed them out to participants in its New York City race for breast cancer survivors.

During BCAM, many companies promote awareness of breast cancer and raise money by organizing a “pink day” when employees wear pink clothing or accessories. The proceeds are then donated to the organizers’ choice of breast cancer care or research programs.

Many high-profile organizations have adopted their own “pink” events. The Estee Lauder Companies, for example, have pink-lit more than a dozen world-famous landmarks – including Niagara Falls – to raise awareness of breast cancer. During October, the National Football League uses pink on its websites, graphics, and advertisements. In addition, players show their support on the field by wearing pink gloves, cleats, captain’s watches, and other apparel.

Newspapers, too, have gone pink. On Oct.10, 2010, more than 50 comic strip artists used pink and the pink ribbon with the words “Cartoonists Care.” Some newspapers printed an entire pink edition that included multiple breast-cancer related articles.

The National Race for the Cure, sponsored by the Susan G. Komen Foundation, is one of the best-known events associated with NCBAM. The first such race was held in October 1983 in Dallas, and attracted about 800 participants. By 2002, the event was held in more than 100 American cities as well as in other countries, and attracted an estimated 1.3 million participants. The foundation also sponsors the Breast Cancer 3-Day, a 60-mile walk held in several U.S. cities.

For more information about the National Race for the Cure, contact http://ww5.komen.org/

Other NCBAM-associated events include the Ride to Power, which started in 2008 to raise money for the Breast Cancer Network of Strength’s programs. This destination bicycle ride is fully supported along its route lengths, which range from 32 to 100 miles.

In 2009, three male breast cancer advocacy groups -- Out of the Shadow of Pink, A Man's Pink, and the Brandon Greening Foundation for Breast Cancer in Men -- established the third week of October as "Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week.”

Although NBCAM is October, organizers are dedicated to raising awareness of breast cancer through the year. The www.NBCAM.org Web site is a year-round resource for breast cancer patients, survivors, caregivers and the general public, and offers updated information on NBCAM events throughout October.

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