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