Global Landmarks Lit for Breast Cancer Awareness

Every October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year, and more than 200,000 will be diagnosed.

On Tuesday's Early Show, model and Estee Lauder spokesperson Elizabeth Hurley visits us to talk about raising awareness for this deadly disease and about what you can do to help.

Each year, Estee Lauder sells specific products from which the proceeds benefit breast cancer research. This year, in light of the September 11 tragedy, half of the proceeds normally earmarked for breast cancer will be donated to the Twin Towers Fund and the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

On Monday, October 1, the New York Times was delivered in pink bags (instead of the usual blue bags) and numerous landmarks around the world will be lit up in pink, including the Empire State Building. And Tuesday night, Hurley will be flipping a switch to illuminate the Trump/GM building in pink.

Fast Facts About Breast Cancer:

• After skin cancer, breast cancer is the number 1 cancer among women.
• According to the National Cancer Institute, the chance that a woman will develop breast cancer by age 40 is one in 217. By age 45, the chance is one in 93. By age 85, the chance is one in eight.
• There is a higher chance that a woman will develop breast cancer if she has her first child after age 30, or if she has no children at all.
• The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2001, 192,200 cases of breast cancer (stages I through IV) will be diagnosed in the United States, resulting in 40,200 deaths.
• It also estimates that in 2001, 39,900 cases of noninvasive, early stage breast cancer (stage 0) will be diagnosed.
• And the ACS estimates that 1,500 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, resulting in 400 deaths.
• Approximately 5 to 10% of breast cancers are inherited.
• Approximately 80% of women who get breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.
• 97% of women whose breast cancer is diagnosed at an early stage survive more than 5 years.
• Only 5% of breast cancer cases occur in women under the age of 40.
• Women should conduct monthly self-breast exams starting at age 20.

Cancer Under The Microscope Interactive--Learn about the most common cancers, who gets them, and how they are treated. Discover how the disease attacks the human body and which cancers are the leading killers.

For more information visit the following Web sites:

• The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
  
• American Cancer Society.
  
• National Cancer Institute.