- More than 200,000 U. S. women will be diagnosed with breast
cancer in 2006, an estimated 13,150 of those in Texas, the fourth
highest state rate in the nation.1
- An estimated 2,530 Texas women will die from breast cancer
this year, the fourth highest state rate in the United States.1
- The chief reason women do not get a mammogram is because
their doctor has not recommended one.2
Breast cancer prevention and early detection have been crucial goals
for the "Gift of Life" since its inception more than 12 years ago. In
fact, these goals support the organization's mission and form the
basis for its breast cancer educational outreach programming, its
free mammogram initiative for women who are uninsured and
underinsured, and its commitment to access to treatment for
eligible women who require follow-up after receiving an abnormal
mammogram and/or clinical breast exam.
The above statistics and relative information highlight the importance
of education on this topic. Breast Cancer Awareness Month activities
offer the "Gift of Life" an opportunity to exponentially increase its
outreach capacity and community impact on this critical health issue.
- Billboards in Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange (English and Spanish);
- Bench bulletins at Beaumont bus stops;
- Yard signs in Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange;
- Breast cancer awareness displays exhibited at libraries in
Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange;
- Advertisements in Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange newspapers;
- More than 15,000 trayliners with special breast cancer messages
used at all 24 Southeast Texas McDonald's locations;
- Radio public service announcements;
- "Get a Mammogram" buttons distributed to and worn by employees
of local merchants and medical staff in doctors' offices and clinics; and
- Cancer awareness t-shirts distributed to staff of mobile
mammography van site hosts, health clinics, and radiology departments.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the "Gift of Life" also offers
eight mobile mammography van events serving approximately 300
medically underserved women, with another 70 women screened at
Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospitals in Beaumont and Orange. (Read more
about free mammograms.)
“Pink Ladies” - Breast cancer survivors (with family and friends)
decorate four-foot wooden female cut-outs to celebrate their
own survivorship, to honor another survivor, or in memory of
a loved one who had breast cancer.
Curl Up For the Cause - An awareness campaign is conducted
during September and October, with area salons participating,
displaying signage and wearing awareness t-shirts each Friday. On
October 20, National Mammography Day, guests at each participating
salon will receive an educational gift bag.
Pink Boutiques - Approximately 15 boutiques will sell pink and
other selected merchandise in their stores (with 15% of sales
going to the "Gift of Life" and its mammogram services) and
display signage educating consumers about the importance of
early detection and preventative care.
Shakin', Bakin', and Celebratin' Cookbook - The newest initiative
for the month of October, breast cancer survivors have created
a cookbook that contains special survivor-contributed
recipes, along with stories or anecdotes related to their
experience with cancer, as well as a section on healthy cooking.
1 American Cancer Society
2 National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Campaign