The American Cancer Society is pleased to be working with your company to provide tips for your employees to help lower their risk of breast cancer, steps to help find it early, as well as information and messages for those who already have been affected by the disease. Resources such as these help raise awareness about what employees can do to help lower their risk for breast canceror find it early, and provide support if they are diagnosed with the disease.

Employees appreciate employers thatshow a caring commitment to their personal needs. You can show your support to the well-being of your employees by reminding them of the services available through the American Cancer Society.

Please be sure to cite the American Cancer Society as your source when offering the enclosed information to your employees. All content in this document is updated for 2017. Also, be aware that changing the text or content of this toolkit might also change the accuracy of certain medical content, and is not recommended. Thank you again for your commitment to saving lives in the workplace.

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Table of Contents

October Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. / 3
Moving From Awareness to Action / 3
How to Use This Breast Cancer Awareness Toolkit / 4
Email Messages/Newsletter Inserts / 5
Promotional Messages
Social Media / 14
16
Breast Cancer Quiz / 17
Breast Cancer Stories of Hope / 20
Breast Cancer PowerPoint Presentation / 21
Breast Cancer Videos / 21
Messages to Use Year-round / 22

Moving From Awareness to Action

Whether personally or through the experience of someone they know nearly everyone in your company has been touched by cancer in some way. Still, your employees can make lifestyle choices to help reduce their cancer risk. About 1 out of 5 cancers diagnosed in the United States could be prevented if people did what we know works: stay at a healthy weight, eat right, exercise, and drink alcohol in moderation, if you drink at all. Not using tobacco, avoiding tobacco smoke, and getting recommended cancer screening tests are also ways to help reduce your cancer risk. The American Cancer Society is here to help you encourage your employees to move from awareness to action.

The power of prevention and early detection is clear

  • Regular cancer screening tests can actually prevent colorectal and cervical cancers before they start. Screening also can help find some cancers early, when they’re small and haven’t spread – this is when treatment is more likely to be successful. Early detection could help increase the survival rates for cancers of the breast, colon, rectum, lung, and cervix.
  • Cancers related to cigarette smoking and heavy use of alcohol could be prevented if people didn’t smoke, avoided secondhandsmoke, and limited their alcohol consumption.
  • Many skin cancer cases might be prevented if people protected themselves from the sun.

Healthy employees live longer, feel better, and use fewer sick days, all of which help keep health care costs down. You can take an important step toward creating a healthy workplace by encouraging your employees to learn the facts about recommended cancer screening tests and to take care of themselves with everyday lifestyle choices.

Together with the American Cancer Society, your company can help save more lives by improving your employees’ health and well-being, while benefiting your organization’s bottom line.

October Is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Breast cancer is also the second-leading cause of cancer death in women (after lung cancer).

This is where you come in. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Together with the American Cancer Society, you can encourage your employees to take steps to help lower their risk of developing breast cancer and help find it early, when it’s easier to treat.

By collaborating with us, you can also connect employees facing breast cancer to patient programs and services they might need throughout their diagnosis. We encourage you to share these messages during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and throughout the year.

How to Use This Breast Cancer Awareness Toolkit

Raising awareness about breast cancerat your company sends the message that you care about the well-being of your employees and their families. This American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Awareness Toolkit makes it easy to do just that.

The toolkit has a variety ofcommunication tools you can use based on your organization’s needs, such as:

  • The American Cancer Society’s recommended breast cancer screening guidelines
  • Sample email and social media messages to send to employees
  • Articles for your company newsletter or intranet
  • Promotional messages to post in break rooms and common areas

All the materials can be used by any size business or organization and can be tailored to your company’s needs. In addition to the breast cancer awareness information for October, we’re including messages to share with your employees year-round about nutrition and physical activity, smoking cessation, andAmerican Cancer Societypatient programs and services for people with cancer.

Currently, the toolkit is availableonly in English, but we do offer information about cancer including prevention, early detection, treatment, and managing side effects in several languages. The link to Cancer Information in Other Languages has been added on the Content Subscription Service page in the Additional Resources section.

We’re there when you need us – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week− with the latest cancer information, day-to-day help, and emotional supportfor those coping with breast cancer or any form of cancer.

Email Messages/Newsletter Inserts

These email messages and newsletter inserts can be interchanged.

TITLE: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Learn About Breast Cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, it is estimated that more than250,000women in the United States will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. It’s the secondleading cause of cancer death in American women (after lung cancer).

For now, the best way we have to find breast cancer early – when it’s small and has not spread – is for women to get regular mammograms and continue to do so as long as they’re in good health.

Women between the ages of 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year. From ages 45 to 54, they should get mammograms every year.

Women 55 and old should switch to mammograms every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

In addition, women can take these steps to helplowertheirrisk of breast cancer:

  • Get to and stayat a healthy weight.
  • Stay active.
  • Those who drink should limit alcohol to no more than one drink a day.

If you know someone facing breast cancer, tell them that the American Cancer Society is here to help themevery step of the way. We offer access to free transportation and lodging when treatment is away from home, and can provide one-on-one support from breast cancer survivors who have had similar diagnoses and treatment plans.

The American Cancer Society also funds and conducts research that helps us better understand, prevent, and find cures for breast cancer – and all cancers. In fact, the American Cancer Society has been a part of many major breast cancer research breakthroughs in recent history.

During October, we remind women about the importance of breast health and celebrate the progress we’ve made. You can help! Support us by participating in one of the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer® nationwide events, speak out to increase funding for programs that give all women access to mammograms and treatment, or simply remind the women in your life to get regular mammograms.

For more information, visit the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org/breastcancer orcall us at 1-800-227-2345.

TITLE: American Cancer Society® Screening Recommendations for Women Withan Average Risk ofBreast Cancer

These guidelines are for women who have an average riskof breast cancer. A woman is at average risk if she doesn’t have a personal history of breast cancer, a strong family history of breast cancer, or a genetic mutation known to increase risk of breast cancer (such as BRCA), and she has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30.

Women between 40 and 44 have the option to start screening with a mammogram every year.

Women between 45 and 54 should get mammograms every year.

Women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year, or they can choose to continue yearly mammograms. Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live at least 10 more years.

All women should understand what to expect when getting a mammogram for breast cancer screening – what the test can and cannot do.

All women should talk with a health care provider about their breast cancer risk to know whether they should start screening at a younger age or follow a different screening plan.

All women should also know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to a health care provider right away.

Regular mammograms can help find breast changes that could be cancer years before physical symptoms develop. Results of many decades of research clearly show that women who have regular mammograms are more likely to have breast cancer found early, are less likely to need aggressive treatment like surgery to remove the breast (mastectomy) and chemotherapy, and are more likely to be cured.

Mammograms are not perfect. They miss some cancers. And sometimes a woman will be need more tests to find out if something found on a mammogram is or is not cancer. There’s also a small possibility of being diagnosed with a cancer that never would have caused any problems had it not been found during screening. It’s important that women getting mammograms know what to expect and understand the benefits and limitations of screening.

To learn more about mammograms and breast cancer screening, visit the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org/breastcancer or call us at 1-800-227-2345. We’re here for you every step of the way.

TITLE: A Mammogram Could Help Save Your Life

Scheduling your yearly check-up? Make sure to bring up scheduling a mammogram – the test you need to help find breast cancer early. It could help save your life.

Regular mammograms can help find breast cancer early, when it’s small, less likely to have spread, and easier to treat.

Getting tested for breast cancer can make a dramatic difference in a woman’s chances of surviving the disease. The 5-year survival rate for women with breast cancer that has not spread outside the breast is 99%. However, if the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes, the rate drops to 85%. And if it has spread to other organs, the 5-year survival rate drops to 26%.

So don’t wait –remind the women you care about to get regular mammograms.

Mammograms are not perfect. They can miss some breast cancers, so be sure to see a health care provider right away if you notice any changes in the way your breasts look and/or feel.

If you have a family or personal history of breast cancer or think you might be at higher risk than other women, discuss this with your health care provider so you can decide on the screening schedule that’s right for you.

To learn more about mammograms and breast cancer screening, visit the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org/breastcancer or call us at 1-800-227-2345. We’re here when you need us – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TITLE: What is a mammogram?

A mammogram is a low-dose x-ray of the breast that lets specialists look for changes in breast tissue.

  • Screening mammograms look for breast disease in women who don’t seem to have breast problems.
  • A diagnostic mammogram is used to diagnose breast disease in women who have breast symptoms or had an abnormal result on a screening mammogram.

Why should I have a mammogram?

A mammogram can often show breast cancer in its early stages, even before a lump can be felt. This is when treatment can be most successful.

What does a mammogram show?

Mammograms can’t prove that an abnormal area is cancer, but they can give information that shows if more testing is needed. The 2 main types of breast changes found with a mammogram are calcifications and masses.

  • Calcifications are tiny mineral deposits in the breast tissue. They look like small white spots on the x-ray pictures. They may or may not be caused by cancer.
  • A mass can be many things, including a cyst (fluid-filled sac) or a non-cancerous (benign) tumor, but it could also be cancer.

Having your older mammograms available for the radiologist to use for comparison is very important. They can help show if a mass or calcification has changed over time, which could help the doctor decide if more tests are needed.

How does it work?

A mammogram is done by a machine designed to look only at breast tissue. This machine takes x-rays at lower doses than usual x-rays. Because these x-rays don’t go through tissue easily, the machine has 2 plates that compress or flatten the breast to spread the tissue. This gives a better picture and allowsless radiation to be used.

For more information on breast cancer early detection or mammograms, go to cancer.org/breastcanceror call the American Cancer Society® at 1-800-227-2345. We’re here every step of the way when you need us – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

TITLE: Steps to Help You Stay Well and Lower Your Breast Cancer Risk

Did you know that you can take steps that could help lower your risk of getting breast cancer? Staying at a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and limiting how much alcohol you drink are ways you can help lower your risk and be healthy.

Watch your weight. Being overweight or obese is linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. So, choose foods that will help you get to and stay at a healthy weight. Here’s how to start:

  • Balance the number of calories you eat with your physical activity.
  • Eat at least 2½ cups of a variety of vegetables and fruits each day.
  • Try to choose whole grains instead of processed (refined) grains and sugars.
  • Limit the amount of red meat and processed meat you eat, especially those high in fat.

Exercise. Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, or an equal combination, preferably spread throughout the week.

  • Moderate activities make you breathe hard, such as walking briskly, leisurely bicycling, mowing the lawn, yoga, ice skating, or dancing.
  • Vigorous activities increase your heart rate and make you sweat and breathe faster. This type of activity includes jogging or running, digging, carrying or hauling, jumping rope, or swimming.

Limit how much alcohol you drink. Women who drink should limit their alcohol intake to no more than 1 drink a day. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.

In addition to making healthy lifestyle choices, talk to your health care provider about the best breast cancer screening plan for you. Screening tests can help find breast cancer early, when it’s easier to treat.

For more information on the steps you can take to help reduce your risk of breast cancer and other cancers, too, visit the American Cancer Society website at cancer.org/breastcanceror call us at 1-800-227-2345. We’re here for you every step of the way.

TITLE: Are You at Risk for Breast Cancer?

We don’t know how to prevent all breast cancers, but there are steps you can take to help lower your risk of developing the disease. Some risk factors, such as age, race, family history of breast cancer, and reproductive history, cannot be changed. However, there are lifestyle factors you can change, such as limiting alcohol use, getting regular physical activity, and staying at a healthy weight, which are linked to lower risk.

Being a woman is the greatest risk factor for breast cancer, but men can develop it, too.

As you get older, your breast cancer risk increases. Most women are 55 or older when they are diagnosed with breast cancer.