Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the leading killer of women aged 40 to 59. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no known risk factors.
The most common risk factors for developing breast cancer are simply being a woman and growing older. All women, and even men, are at some risk. In this decade, an estimated 1.8 million women and 12,000 men will have been diagnosed with invasive breast cancer.
To Build an Organization to End Breast Cancer You Need a Strong Foundation
Like so many others, Nancy Brinker's life was forever changed by her sister's battle against breast cancer. Susan Goodman Komen died at the age of 36. Founded in her memory in 1982, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was born from a sister's love and a solemn promise to do something to stop breast cancer from taking more lives. Within 2 years of Suzy's death, it was Nancy who was battling breast cancer and now she is a survivor!
Our Mission
The mission of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation is to eradicate breast cancer as a life-threatening disease by advancing research, education, screening, and treatment.
The Komen Foundation has Affiliates in more than 100 US cities. Tens of thousands of volunteers—many touched by their own or a loved one's fight with breast cancer—help raise breast cancer awareness, raise funds, and lead local efforts to improve services and programs in their area.
Dedicated to Being Good Stewards of Our Money
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation continues to operate with only a small staff, thanks to the time and effort caringly donated by our large volunteer network. We are very careful in our spending, realizing that our supporters expect their money to be dedicated to fulfilling our mission of eradicating breast cancer as a life-threatening disease. General and administrative expenses continue to remain well below 10% of our annual revenues.
Serving as a Vocal Public Policy Advocate
Representatives of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation are regularly called on to represent those battling against breast cancer.
Whether addressing legislative bodies, scientific conferences, women's groups, community health fairs or media opportunities, these Komen Foundation advocates are the voice of the women and men in this battle. Our efforts help shape public opinion and public policy, and we are being heard.
We are also challenged to help ensure the well-being of those at risk of or diagnosed with breast cancer, continuing to work in collaboration with agencies like the U.S. Public Health Service's Office of Women's Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control. Komen Foundation representatives also serve on many national and international boards and committees on healthcare and cancer.
Funding Our National Grant Program
The Komen Foundation offers one of the country's most innovative and responsive grant programs. Since its inception in 1982, the Foundation has raised more than $200 million for the fight against breast cancer. The work funded includes basic, clinical and translational breast cancer research. Grant recipients in these areas are selected through a blind peer review process recognized by the National Cancer Institute. In order to recruit and retain young scientists in the field of breast cancer research, the Foundation also awards 3-year postdoctoral fellowships to individuals working under the guidance of experienced cancer researchers.
For 14 years, our grant program has also provided funding for innovative outreach projects in the areas of breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment. In addition, our Affiliates administer local grant programs funded by local Komen Race for the Cure and other fund-raising events. Community programs are selected for funding based on needs identified through community profiles developed by local Komen Foundation Affiliates.
1998 was a stellar year for our National Grant Program. We funded 77 national grants totalling more than $11 million.
Early Detection and Optimal Treatment Improve Survival
With knowledge and support, the initial fear of diagnosis can be channeled into action, and action can lead to hope. If caught early when cancer cells are confined to the breast, breast cancer has a 5-year survival rate of over 95%—and the number of long-term breast cancer survivors continues to grow. Mortality rates could decrease by 30% if all women age 50 and older who need a mammogram are screened.
Take Your First Steps in the Race Against Breast Cancer
The Komen Foundation recommends the following steps:
Annual screening mammography beginning at age 40 and continuing throughout your life.
Clinical breast examination at least every 3 years beginning at age 20 and annually after age 40.
Monthly breast self-examination beginning by age 20.
Women under age 40 with either a family history of breast cancer or other risk concerns should consult with a trained medical professional about when to begin mammography.
Helpful Resources
Our National Toll-Free Helpline, 1-800-I'M AWARE, is staffed by specially trained and committed Helpline volunteers, many of whom have been personally touched by breast cancer. The Helpline volunteers are there to offer a compassionate ear and information with a personal touch.
Our award-winning website at www.breastcancerinfo.com contains more than 100 pages of breast health, breast cancer and Foundation information, plus links to related websites. Areas of our website address the needs of special audiences like breast cancer survivors and their families and friends, the media, and the medical and scientific communities.
