The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. Together with our millions of supporters, we are creating a world with less cancer and more birthdays.

We save lives by:

• Helping people stay well by showing them steps they can take to reduce their risk for cancer or detect it early;

• Helping people get well by guiding them through every step of a cancer experience;

• Finding cures through investing in and conducting groundbreaking research; and

• Fighting back by working with legislators to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight.

Why should I support the American Cancer Society in the fight to end breast cancer?

• Because we invest more in breast cancer research than any other cancer – to find, prevent, treat, and cure the disease. We’ve played a role in nearly every major breast cancer research breakthrough in recent history, and we will continue our work until we end the disease.

• Because 1 in every 2 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer reaches out to us for help and support. We’re in every community providing them with free information and services – when and where they need it.

• Because we’re ensuring access to mammograms for women who need them.

Additional Information on breast cancer research:

• Unlike some organizations that support only breast cancer research, we also fund research to find cures for all types of cancer, because we know that discoveries in one area could help find answers in another.

• Since 1946, we’ve invested more than $3.8 billion in cancer research.

• Thanks in part to our work, nearly 14 million cancer survivors (2.9 million of them breast cancer survivors) and countless others who have avoided the disease will celebrate another birthday this year.

• Of the researchers chosen for Society funding, 46 have gone on to win the Nobel Prize. The progress we’ve funded because of our dedicated supporters is nothing short of remarkable, and includes:

o Establishing mammography as the standard to find breast cancer early

o Discovering lifesaving treatments such as Herceptin and Tamoxifen

o Discovering genes that cause breast cancer

o Deepening the knowledge of how genetics, diet, lack of exercise, and alcohol use can increase a person’s cancer risk

o Discovering the benefits of breast-conserving surgery, such as lumpectomy plus radiation for treatment

• Currently, breast cancer research projects are under way at institutions across the country, thanks in large part to the funds raised by our generous supporters.

What is the American Cancer Society doing to help women stay well from breast cancer?

• We know that finding breast cancer early, when it is easiest to treat, can mean the difference between life and death. So we provide screening guidelines, clinician education, and engage in efforts to increase public awareness about the importance of yearly mammograms.

• At cancer.org/MammogramReminder, you and the women you care about can sign up to receive an email that will remind you to schedule your yearly mammogram in the month of your choice. The Society recommends that all women 40 and older get a mammogram every year, in addition to a breast exam by their doctor or nurse as part of their regular health checkups.

Additional information on reducing breast cancer risk:

Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer (which is why yearly mammograms are so important), there are steps you can take to reduce your breast cancer risk:

• Maintain a healthy body weight throughout life.

• Engage in moderate to vigorous regular physical activity (at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity each week (or a combination of these), preferably spread throughout the week.

• Reduce the amount of alcohol you drink, if you drink at all, to no more than one drink per day for women (and no more than two drinks per day for men).

• If you are at high risk for breast cancer, talk with your doctor about your risk and what your options are to help reduce your risk

What is the American Cancer Society doing to help people with breast cancer?

Having cancer is hard. Finding help shouldn’t be. That’s why the American Cancer Society is here around the clock to guide you through every step of a breast cancer experience. In communities nationwide, we’re helping people right now by providing:

• Transportation assistance to and from treatment

• Free lodging when the treatment facility is far from home

• Emotional support programs that connect newly diagnosed breast cancer patients with trained breast cancer survivors

• Free wigs and assistance with treatment-related physical side effects

• An online support network

• Practical tips, tools, and resources for nutritional needs during treatment, recovery, and beyond

What is the American Cancer Society doing to fight back against breast cancer?

Our passionate volunteers work relentlessly to help fuel the fight to end breast cancer by participating in the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk – a powerful and inspiring event that unites us to walk together, one million strong, as the most powerful force to end breast cancer.

About Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events:

• Making Strides is the largest network of breast cancer awareness events in the nation, uniting more than 270 communities to fund the fight.

• Making Strides walkers turn awareness into action by raising more than $60 million for the American Cancer Society each year – one dollar at a time – to save lives from breast cancer.

• Walks are three to five miles in distance. That’s only about 10,000 steps, and each one brings us closer to finding cures.

• Making Strides walkers and supporters can be proud that their efforts are helping 2.9 million breast cancer survivors living in the US celebrate another birthday this year.

Additionally, we work with public officials to enact policies to defeat breast cancer and rally communities to join the fight. Through our nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN), we work tirelessly to keep breast cancer a top priority for our nation’s lawmakers. Thanks in part to donations made to ACS CAN, our advocacy efforts are increasing the options available for people battling cancer.

About the ACS CAN breast cancer efforts:

• ACS CAN has successfully lobbied Congress for millions of dollars for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), which helps low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women get access to critical screenings and follow-up treatment. Thanks in part to this work the NBCCEDP has provided approximately 10 million screening tests to nearly 4 million women, detecting more than 52,000 breast cancers.

• ACS CAN actively supports federal legislation that would increase access to treatment for breast cancer patients and the quality of life for breast cancer survivors.

• ACS CAN urges Congress to fund critical research that has the potential to make progress in the prevention, treatment, and care of those diagnosed with and living with cancer.

General Contact Information

For more information on the American Cancer Society and our fight to end breast cancer, please call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org/breastcancer. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/AmericanCancerSociety and on Twitter at @AmericanCancer.

To learn more about our Making Strides events and to sign up, visit cancer.org/stridesonline. Connect with us on Facebook at facebook.com/Strides and on Twitter at @MakingStrides.