Whereas, October is globally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and aims to raise awareness and to educate about breast health and breast cancer, which is a leading cause of death in women in the world. The month also recognizes the many survivors, those living with metastatic breast cancer, their supporters and loved ones; and honors those lives lost to this disease; and
Whereas, in the Pacific Northwest, 1 in 7 women are affected by breast cancer when the national average is 1 in 8 women; and breast cancer also affects 1% of men; only 15% of diagnoses are related to family history; 20- 30% of those diagnosed with early disease will experience a recurrence; and
Whereas, there are still too many health disparities among underserved communities by income, geography, insurance, race, ethnicity, age and gender who are disproportionately affected by this disease; and
Whereas, racial disparities have been prominent for over a decade due to low screening rates and healthcare inequities; Black women have a 4% lower incidence rate of breast cancer than White women but a 40% lower survival rate; Asian and Pacific Islander women are 17% less likely to be diagnosed; and
Whereas, men and people assigned male at birth can also get breast cancer, but are less likely to report symptoms and are often not diagnosed until later stages of cancer than women and people assigned female at birth; and
Whereas, Pink Lemonade Project, a Washington-based nonprofit organization, is on a mission to educate, empower, and support all communities affected by breast cancer with vital outreach, education, screening, financial assistance, support groups, mentors and books across Oregon and SW Washington; and
Whereas, the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute works to free the world from the burden of cancer, one patient at a time; every year, the institute treats about 6,000 patients and conducts roughly 1,400 research projects, including more than 400 clinical trials for patients with cancer; its Community Partnership Program has invested nearly $7.7 million in 216 projects around Oregon and Members of Knight Scientific Research Advocates draw on their personal experiences with cancer to help shape research priorities and outcomes; and
Whereas, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to unite the community and spread important messages of early detection, screening and prevention and assistance to women and men before, during and after a diagnosis to increase health equity, reduce the number of new diagnoses, to increase survivorship and to improve everyone's quality of life; and
Whereas, early detection through regular screenings, including mammograms, significantly increases survival rates, with early-stage breast cancer having a 99% survival rate; and
Whereas, women can learn about their breast density through mammogram reports, as mandated by Oregon's and Washington's breast density notification law; and
Whereas, dense breast tissue can obscure tumors on mammograms, increasing the risk of missed diagnoses; therefore, supplemental MRI or breast ultrasound may be vital for enhancing detection in women with dense breasts, particularly those at higher risk for breast cancer.
Now, therefore, I, Ted Wheeler, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim October 2024 to be
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
in Portland and encourage all residents to observe this month and participate in activities that promote awareness, support research, and prioritize regular screenings for early detection and fight against breast cancer.