Maricopa fire fighters wear pink to support breast cancer awareness

Just two weeks ago thousands participated in the Komen Race for the Cure on the streets of Phoenix. Maricopa fire fighters are riding, not racing, in support of Breast Cancer Awareness, and they’re wearing pink shirts.

Maricopa fire fighters are wearing pink in honor of women who are going through breast cancer, and in memory of women who have lost their fight.

“It is our hope that the pink shirts will remind women to do regular self exams and mammograms,” stated Wade Brannon, assistant fire chief.

“Many of the fire fighters know women or men that have had breast cancer, have survived breast cancer or have lost someone close to us to this illness,” declared Patrick Melvin, public safety director. “The public safety department would like to pass the following information on to the community as a reminder to get routine check ups, perform self exams and follow your doctor’s recommendations for prevention.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that 1.3 million women worldwide will be diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 465,000 of those diagnosed will die. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today and is the most common cancer among women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women, and the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaska Native women.

The key to surviving breast cancer is early detection and treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is confined to the breast, the five-year survival rate is close to 100 percent. The early detection of breast cancer helps reduce the need for therapeutic treatment and minimizes pain and suffering, allowing women to continue leading happy, productive lives.

Beginning at the age of 20, every woman should practice monthly breast self-exams and begin a routine program of breast health, including scheduling physician performed clinical breast exams at least every three years. As a woman ages, her risk of breast cancer also increases. About 77 percent of women with breast cancer are over age 50 at the time of diagnosis.

Women between the ages of 20 and 29 account for only 0.3 percent of breast cancer cases. Beginning at the age of 40, all women should have annual screening mammograms, receive clinical breast exams each year and practice breast self-exams every month.

For more information on Breast Cancer Awareness month or to learn more about breast cancer, visit the Susan G. Komen Web site.

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