October is Breast Cancer Action Month and this year The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) is challenging everyone to TAKE ACTION to raise awareness about breast cancer and to raise funds for education programmes.
Why are we so interested in discussing Breast Cancer Awareness on our blog?
Because breast cancer is the number-one women-killer in New Zealand.
Here are some concerning facts about breast cancer:
- All women have a chance of developing breast cancer at some time during their lives
- Around 2,400 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year
- As women grow older, the risk of breast cancer increases…
| Age | Risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer | |
| 30s | 1 in 204 | |
| 40s | 1 in 67 | |
| 50s | 1 in 35 | |
| 60s | 1 in 33 | |
| 70s | 1 in 38 |
- The rate of breast cancer diagnosis is rising in NZ… an 18% increase in the ten-year period 1995 and 2004…
- However, the death rate from breast cancer is falling slightly… due (in part) to the efforts of making women more aware of the need for regular screening… which is exactly why we’re talking about it on our blog!
- Still, more than 600 women are likely to die this year from breast cancer… that’s 12 women per week! So no reason to be complacent.
In NZ many women tend not to have regular screening mammograms…. this means if there is breast cancer, it’s often well established by the time their doctor examines them and these women are more at risk of dying from breast cancer… obviously.
Finally, Pinnacle recently launched an insurance product called Cancer Cover. The product pays out a lump sum up to $250,000 if you’re diagnosed with cancer… cash you can use to supplement your income, pay medical bills or simply take some time out.
For each Cancer Cover policy purchased online, Pinnacle Life will make a donation to the The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation.
