The American Cancer Society estimates that in this Country, breast cancer will become a reality for 296,980 females in 2013. The positive news is that 87% of them will survive this devastating diagnosis.
Surprisingly, there can be moments of humor and joy along the way. A new, original musical illustrates this. It will serve as a benefit for Gilda’s Club of the Quad Cities. Performances of “Breast in Show” are Tuesday, October 8, and Thursday, October 10, 2013, at Circa ’21 Dinner Playhouse, 1828 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, IL.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m., and the performances start at 7:00. There will not be a buffet meal.
Locals will recognize one of the perfomers: Jalayne Riewerts. Her name–and dramatic reputation–guarantee the audience a good time for this good cause.
She plays flirty “Shirley,” who has a crush on her oncologist, and “Bonnie,” an overbearing Jewish aunt of a cancer patient.
Click here for a plot and character description of “Breast in Show.”
Tickets are $20. Order them at www.circa21.com or by calling 309-786-7733, extension 2.
Key Statistics about Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About 1 in 8 (12%) women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.
These American Cancer Society’s estimates for breast cancer in the U. S. are for 2013:
- About 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
- About 64,640 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed. CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer.
- About 39,620 women will die from breast cancer.
After increasing for more than two decades, female breast cancer incidence rates began decreasing in 2000, then dropped by about 7% from 2002 to 2003. This large decrease was thought to be due to the decline in use of hormone therapy after menopause, that occurred after the results of the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. This study linked the use of hormone therapy to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart diseases.
Incidence rates have been stable in recent years.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman’s death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1989, with larger decreases in women younger than 50.
These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.
At this time there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.
Data was last revised February 26, 2013.