HomeMy WebLinkAboutS Breast Cancer Awareness Month Proclamation 1
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Proclamation
Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Mammography Day
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrating its sixteenth year of educating women
about the importance of early detection for breast cancer. During this time, mammography use
has increased substantially and breast cancer death rates have declined. Still, many women
do not utilize mammography at regular intervals.
• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of
cancer deaths among women in the United States; and
• Approximately 5,500 North Carolina women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and
approximately 1,100 North Carolina women will die from the disease in 2001; and
• Women age 65 and older are less likely to get mammograms than younger women, even
though breast cancer risk increase with age; and
• Hispanic women have fewer mammograms (58 percent) than Caucasian women (68
percent) and African American women (68 percent); and
• Women below the poverty level are less likely than women at higher incomes to have
had a mammogram within the past two years; and
• Mammography use increased between 1989 and 1997 for all groups except American
Indians and Alaskan Natives.
In recognition of the fact that mammography is the single most effective method of detecting
breast changes that may be cancer, long before physical symptoms can be seen or felt, and
that breast cancer deaths could decline further if all women age 40 and older received
mammograms at regular intervals; and
In recognition that "The Pink Ribbon" is the internationally recognized symbol of breast cancer
and that the Governor has designated October 6-14, 2001 as "Pink Ribbon Week".
We, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, do hereby proclaim October 2001 as
Breast Cancer Awareness Month and October 19"' as National Mammography Day. We urge
Orange County residents to wear pink ribbons in recognition of breast cancer awareness and in
honor of women who have lost their lives to breast cancer, and to those women who are now
courageously fighting the battle with breast cancer. We further encourage women to consult
with their health care provider about regular screening and to promote early detection of breast
cancer by having regular clinical breast examinations, getting regular mammograms, and
practicing monthly breast self-examination.
This the 2"d day of October, 2001.
Stephen H. Halkiotis, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners