DATE: 9/29/05

CONTACT: Marian Freeman-Robinson; (864) 226-1581, ext. 111

WRITER: Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741

Breast cancer awareness luncheon set for Oct. 5

ANDERSON – Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, other than skin cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

That’s why October is set aside as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and why a volunteer and sponsor luncheon will be held at Outback Steakhouse in Anderson on Oct. 5 at noon.

“We want to acknowledge those that assist with and help sponsor the “Golfing for a Cure Tournament” each year,” said Marian Freeman-Robinson, Clemson University community health specialist.

National Mammography Day is the third Friday in October first proclaimed by President Clinton in 1993. On this day, or throughout the month, women are encouraged to make a mammography appointment.

About 211,240 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2005, according to Freeman-Robinson. About 40,410 women will die from the disease this year. Right now there are slightly over 2 million women living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer.

Freeman-Robinson says that Caucasian women are diagnosed more often than African-American women. But, the mortality rate for African-American women is higher because of late diagnosis.

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 7. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 33.

“Breast cancer death rates are going down, said Freeman-Robinson. “This decline is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and improved treatment.”

For more information, contact Freeman-Robinson at (864) 226-1581, ext. 111 or go to her website at: http://www.clemson.edu/fyd/chapman.htm .

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