NEWS RELEASE

Mendota Heights, MN – October is breast cancer awareness month, and the American Cancer is offering a new tool to help women better protect themselves against breast cancer. The e-Mammogram Reminder is the Society’s upgraded e-mail notification system.

A reminder will be delivered on the first of every month to encourage women to go to their mammogram appointments. Each reminder will provide information on breast health and breast cancer so women across the state can stay well and fight back against breast cancer.

“Getting a mammogram is one of the best things a woman can do to protect her health,” said Angie Rolle, director of prevention and detection for the America Cancer Society. “This simple test can find breast cancers early, when they’re easier to treat and chances of survival are higher.”

More than 3,100 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year in Minnesota – 630 will die from the disease, according to the Minnesota 2009 Facts and Figures.

For women 40 and older, the American Cancer Society suggests a mammogram and clinical breast exam every year. Women 20 to 39 are asked to receive a clinical breast exam once every three years.

The American Cancer Society has established a fun challenge, called Light the State Pink, to encourage women to sign up for the e-mammogram program.   Each county will be highlighted in pink after a woman from that county signs up for the reminder. You can see the computerized results by going to http://www.cancer.org/pinkoutmn. (To date, women in 16 counties have registered).

Women can also sign up for the program by  joining either of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks that will take place Saturday morning Oct. 10, at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis (8am registration, 9:30am start) or Lake George in St. Cloud (7 a.m. registration, 8:30a.m. start).  . Thousands are expected at the two events to help raise money in the fight against breast cancer. To set up a team, or to find out more go to http://www.cancer.org/stridesonline.

About the American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, the cancer society fights for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community.

The cancer society save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.

As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, the cancer society turns what it knows about cancer into action. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org.