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SUPPORTING THE NATIONAL BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION
There are a huge number of outstanding research facilities, foundations and charities worthy of support. The Builders Insurance Broker have chosen to donate funds to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCF of A).
Why NBCF?
So many people know someone who has been affected by breast cancer. Our mothers, sisters, aunts, daughters, friends.
These are some of the statistics released from NBCF.
BREAST CANCER IN AUSTRALIA TODAY
Based on the latest national figures available, from 2003:
Breast Cancer: Fast Facts
Breast cancer is the major cause of cancer death in Australian women accounting for more than 11,700 new cases of breast cancer and 2,500 deaths each year. Early detection is the best method for reducing deaths from breast cancer.
Women whose cancer is still contained in the breast when diagnosed have a 90% chance of surviving five years, compared with a 20% five-year survival chance when the cancer has spread at diagnosis.
The incidence of breast cancer is increasing, but with continued support and funding from organisations like the National Breast Cancer Foundation, improvements in research mean survival rates are on the rise.
FAST FACTS:
- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women followed by bowel cancer, melanoma and lung cancer
- One in 11 women will be diagnosed with the disease by the age of 75
- In 2001 (last available national figures), a total of 11,791 women and 95 men were diagnosed with breast cancer
- A total of 2,594 women died from breast cancer in Australia in 2001,making it the most common cause of cancer-related death in women.
- Despite the substantial loss of life, prospects for survival are better than ever. Currently in Australia, over 90% of women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive for at least 2 years, and 84% will survive for 5 years or longer
- From 1994 to 2003, the breast cancer death rates declined by an average of 2% per year. Survival is improving due to better detection and improved treatment resulting from excellent research.
- As with most cancers, the risk of breast cancer increases with age. 25% of the new breast cancer cases diagnosed in 1999 were among women aged 20-49; 48% among women aged 50-69; and 27% among women aged 70+
3 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) & Australasian Association of cancer Registries (AACR) 2004.
Cancer in Australia 2001. AIHW cat. No. CAN 23. Canberra: AIHW (Cancer Series no.28).
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PROSTATE CANCER RELATED STATISTICS
What is the chance for a diagnosis of prostate cancer:
For a man in his 40s 1 in 1000
For a man in his 50s 12 in 1000
For a man in his 60s 45 in 1000
For a man in his 70s 80 in 1000
- Each year in Australia, close to 3000 men die of prostate cancer - equal to the number of women
- who die from breast cancer annually. Around 18,700 new cases are diagnosed in Australia every year.
- Each day about 32 men learn news that they have prostate cancer - tragically one man every three hours will lose his battle against this insidious disease
- One in 9 men in Australia will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime
- Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Australian men and is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men
- As many men die from prostate cancer as women die from breast cancer but... a national survey by PCFA in 2002 showed that while 78% of women felt well informed about breast cancer – only 52% of men felt informed about prostate cancer
- The chance of developing prostate cancer increases:
- as men get older.
- if there is a family history of prostate cancer eg a man with a father or brother diagnosed with prostate cancer
- Early, curable prostate cancer may not have symptoms. While younger men are less likely to be diagnosed with it, they are more likely to die prematurely from it
- Simple testing by a GP can indicate prostate cancer
- Early detection can be achieved with PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) blood test or DRE (Digital Rectal Examination) testing.
- Our research in 2002 shows that only 10% of men surveyed between the ages of 50 and 70 had taken these tests in the previous year.
- Some groups are at greater risk of prostate cancer
- ... for example, for every 100 men who dies of prostate cancer in a metropolitan area of Australia (such as Melbourne or Sydney) 121 men will die in rural Australia. Various factors may include lack of awareness and education about prostate cancer, distance from testing and treatment, poor GP awareness and limited access to specialists (such as urologists)
- The Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia states that veterans have a 53% higher mortality rate from prostate cancer than the average population
- A recently published international study showed that firefighters have a 28% higher risk of prostate cancer
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