Recognizing October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and emphasizing the importance of early detection in African American Women.

WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society estimates that 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and the disease will ravage African American communities where black women have the highest mortality rate; and

WHEREAS, This disease will result in death for more than 40,000 women, including 5,800 or one-third of all African American women who are diagnosed; and

WHEREAS, A family history of breast cancer can contribute to a woman’s risk of getting the disease, but at least 80 percent of the women who get breast cancer have no family history of it; and

WHEREAS, The risk of developing breast cancer generally increases with age. Statistics have shown that it usually strikes African American women when they are in the prime of their lives anywhere between the ages of 30-69; and

WHEREAS, African American women are often diagnosed at a later, more invasive stage of breast cancer when it is less treatable. However, the 5-year survival rate for localized breast cancer in African American women is 89 percent; and

WHEREAS, Mammograms can reveal the presence of small cancers up to two years before regular clinical or self-breast examinations, reducing mortality by up to 63 percent; and

WHEREAS, Early detection is the key to saving lives; and, mammograms improve the chances of breast cancer being diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and emphasize the importance of early detection in African American women.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to The Philadelphia Chapter of the American Cancer Society for its continuing efforts to educate all women, particularly those who are at high risk, on breast cancer and as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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