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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COOK COUNTY RECOGNIZES OCTOBER 2025 AS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
WHEREAS, October is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign dedicated to increasing public awareness and understanding of breast cancer, with a special focus on the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and treatment; and
WHEREAS, breast cancer is a significant global health issue, affecting millions of individuals each year across all demographics; and
WHEREAS, breast cancer is a complex disease that originates from the uncontrolled growth of cells in breast tissue. While it predominantly affects women, men are also at risk of developing this condition; and
WHEREAS, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women and 1 in 726 men in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, it is estimated that 316,950 women and 2,800 men in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, in addition to approximately 59,080 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, there are currently over 4 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, a testament to the progress made in treatment and awareness; and
WHEREAS, approximately 66% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage-before the cancer has spread-when it is most treatable; and
WHEREAS, breast cancer is approximately 100 times less common in White men than in White women, and about 70 times less common in Black men than in Black women. However, Black men, like Black women, often face a worse prognosis; and
WHEREAS, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among U.S. women after skin cancer, and it is the leading cause of cancer-related death among Hispanic women; and
WHEREAS, an estimated 42,170 women in the United States are projected to die from breast cancer in 2025; and
WHEREAS, on average, a woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer every two minutes; and
WHEREAS, according to the American Cancer Society, the breast cancer death rate among women in the U.S. has declined by 44% from its peak in 1989 to 2022, resulting in nearly 518,000 fewer deaths than would have occurred if rates had remained unchanged; and
WHEREAS, a woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative- mother, sister, or daughter-who has been diagnosed with the disease; and
WHEREAS, half of all U.S. women diagnosed with breast cancer are age 62 or younger at the time of diagnosis, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation; and
WHEREAS, individuals under the age of 35 at the time of their original diagnosis are at higher risk for recurrence; and
WHEREAS, Hispanic women are more likely than White women to be diagnosed at later stages, when treatment is more difficult and less effective; and
WHEREAS, data from the American Cancer Society indicates that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women are experiencing the fastest increase in breast cancer incidence, with a 2.5% annual increase for those under 50 and a 2.7% increase for those over 50; and
WHEREAS, one in five Black women with breast cancer are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer-a subtype that is more aggressive and harder to treat-at a higher rate than any other racial or ethnic group; and
WHEREAS, it is recommended that women aged 40 and older receive mammograms every one to two years to aid in early detection; and
WHEREAS, approximately 40 million screening mammograms are performed annually in the United States, along with an estimated 1.7 million diagnostic mammograms; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners hereby recognizes and honors all individuals affected by breast cancer, including patients, survivors, and their families. The Board acknowledges their courage, strength, and resilience, and remembers those whose lives have been lost to this disease; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners formally proclaims October 2025 as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Cook County, and recommits to advancing awareness, access to care, and support for those impacted by breast cancer.
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