Facts and Statistics

Every three minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
This year 211,000 new cases of breast cancer are expected in the United States.
One woman in seven who lives to age 85 will develop breast cancer during her lifetime.
Breast cancer is the number one cause of death in women between the ages of 40 and 55.
Seventy percent of all breast cancers are found through breast self-exams. Not all lumps are detectable by touch. It is recommended you schedule regular mammograms and monthly breast self-exams.
Eight out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous. If you find a lump, don't panic-call your doctor for an appointment.
Mammography is a low-dose X-ray examination that can detect breast cancer up to two years before it is large enough to be felt.
When breast cancer is found early, the five-year survival rate is 96%. This is good news! Over 2 million breast cancer survivors are alive in America today

Chances are, at some point in your life, someone you love will receive a diagnosis of breast cancer. Although most women diagnosed with the disease are over 50, it strikes women of all ages. Like Susan and Michelle, they could otherwise enjoy excellent health. At the time of her diagnosis, Michelle was an avid tennis player and played almost daily. Susan had just returned from a trip to Europe with her children.
The cause is unknown. Many women think the disease will never touch them because it doesn't run in their families. However, of the 211,000 women who receive this diagnosis every year, 75% are the first in their families, and are not at "high risk" for the disease.
This is a Web site, and a foundation, founded by survivors and their friends. We will not quote the heartbreaking statistics of the women who die each year from breast cancer. We will tell you instead about the women we know who are living with it every day, because at this time, there is no cure.
The good news is this: Every year brings us closer to a cure. Breast cancer treatment has improved dramatically in the last five to ten years. The many millions of dollars raised to support research into diagnosis and treatment has significantly hastened these improvements. We know that research funding speeds new developments, and raises awareness of this disease, which can motivate women to seek early diagnosis and treatment.
Breast cancer remains the number-two killer of women in the United States. In 2004, 6,000 North Carolinians will be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. An estimated 1,250 North Carolinians will die of breast cancer in 2004.
According to most recent data, mortality rates from breast cancer have declined significantly from 1992-1998, with the largest decrease in younger women, both white and black. The American Cancer Society attributes these decreases to improvements in earlier detection and treatment of the disease. The Sisko Foundation remains committed to eliminating this ugly disease before it afflicts the next generation. With your help, we come closer to that goal every day.