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Recognizing October 2026 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and honoring survivors, advocates, and all those affected by breast cancer.
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WHEREAS, October is nationally recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month, bringing light to the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the United States. Breast cancer accounts for 32% of all newly diagnosed cancers in women each year; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Breast cancer diagnoses continue to rise despite advancements in screening and in treatment; and
WHEREAS, In 2026, an estimated 321,910 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, with 16% of these cases occurring in women under 50 years old; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 42,140 women will die from breast cancer in 2026, underscoring the urgency of ongoing efforts in education, prevention, and treatment; and
WHEREAS, More than 13,500 women in Pennsylvania are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, with an incidence rate of 120 cases per 100,000 women, higher than the national average; and
WHEREAS, A 2026 report from Komen Foundation identified Philadelphia as one of the metropolitan areas with the largest disparities in breast cancer mortality rates for Black women, founded by a 2026 CDC study that reported in Philadelphia, Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer than white women, and 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, highlighting the importance of regular screenings to catch anomalies and disparities in access to care, quality of treatment, and socioeconomic factors; and
WHEREAS, Late-stage diagnoses continuing to increase in every age group every year emphasizes the need for further education and screening, and the importance of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a vital health campaign dedicated to addressing these late-stage diagnoses by raising awareness about breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, Across the City, patients, survivors, healthcare providers, and advocates will come together this October to host a range of events aimed at fostering community engagement and collective efforts in the quest for a cure; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby October 2026 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Philadelphia and honoring survivors, advocates, and all those affected by breast cancer.
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