Resources

BREAST CANCER INFORMATION

1. American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer Resources
You have cancer. You want to understand more about your disease; you feel overwhelmed by your life; you want someone to help you.

2. Cancer.Net
Oncologist-approved cancer information from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

3. Macmillan Cancer Support
Macmillan and Cancerback merged in 2008. "Together we provide free, high quality information for people affected by cancer through our publications..."

 4. UpToDate, Inc.

 Electronic clinical resource tool for physicians and patients.

CLINICAL TRIALS RESOURCES

1. National Cancer Institute

Information on how to find cancer clinical trials, what clinical trials are, recent research, and resources for researchers.

2. Cancer Clinical Trial Search

Coalition of Cancer Cooperative Groups providing the most up-to-date source of cancer clinical trial information for cancer patients, healthcare providers and advocates.

3. Clinical Trials Sites for Breast Cancer in Alaska

Alaska Regional Hospital Cancer Care Center

Providence Cancer Center Research Department

Cancer Treatment Center, Juneau

RESOURCE ORGANIZATIONS

1. Breast Cancer Research Foundation

BCRF is an independent not-for-profit organization with a mission to achieve prevention and a cure for breast cancer.

2. Translational Breast Cancer Research Consortium

TBCRC, created in 2005, now comprises clinical trialists, translational scientists, and patient advocates from 14 academic medical centers dedicated to innovative, high impact and biologically-driven clinical research.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR BREAST CANCER

1. National Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
The NBCCEDP provides access to breast and cervical cancer screening services to underserved women in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, five U.S. territories, and 12 tribes.

To find out if you qualify for a free or low-cost mammogram and Pap test, call: 800-410-6266

Breast and Cervical Health Check
Division of Public Health
Section of Women's Children's & Family Health
Anchorage, AK
907-269-3491

2. Alaska Division of Public Health - BCHC
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Guide to Cancer Resources. Southeast Alaska Breast and Cervical Early Detection Program.

3. Alaska Breast Cancer Advocacy Partners
ABCAP is a non-profit, grass-roots advocacy organization.

4. Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

The APIAHF is dedicated to promoting policy, program and research efforts for the improvement of health status of all Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities. Translations include Chinese, Tagolog, Vietnamese, Korean, Hindi, Gujurati, Urdu, Farsi, Thai, and Cambodian.

5. Alaska Cancer Care Alliance
Not-for-profit organization whose mission is to align patients and providers in creating a statewide system to meet Alaska's comprehensive cancer needs.

6. Anchorage Women's Breast Cancer Support Group Providence Imaging Center

7. YWCA ENCOREplus Program

324 E. 5th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska

8. SEARHC Native Women's Breast Cancer Support Group and Health Program

Ketchikan General Hospital 907-228-7629

9. Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic Outreach Program Homer, Alaska

10. YKHC, Bethel, Alaska

YKHC in partnership with Norton Sound Health Corporation and numerous rural health care providers provides breast cancer awareness and outreach programs.

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Breast Cancer Facts

• Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women.
   

• Breast cancer is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths among women.
   

• In the U.S., a woman has a 1 – 8 (12 percent) risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime.
   

• One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes.
   

• One woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the U.S.
   

• The 5-year survival rate for breast cancer, when caught early before it spreads beyond the breast, is now 98 percent, compared to 74 percent in 1982.
   

• Approximately 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers are due to heredity. The majority of women with breast cancer have no known significant family history or other known risk factors.
   

• A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer increases with age. Approximately 95 percent of all breast cancers occur in women over 40.
   

• The chances of a woman dying from breast cancer are approximately 1 in 33 (3 percent).
   

• African-Americans have the highest death rate from breast cancer of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S.
   

• The federal government devotes more than $900 million annually toward breast cancer research, treatment and prevention, compared to $30 million in 1982.
   

• Nearly 75% of women over 40 years of age now receive regular mammograms, thought to be the most effective tool for detecting breast cancer early.

In the U.S. today, there are nearly 2.5 million breast cancer survivors – the largest group of cancer survivors in the country. They are a vital, living testament to the power of awareness and science saving lives.

HOSPITALS

1. Providence Cancer Center, Anchorage

2. Alaska Regional Hospital Cancer Care Center, Anchorage

3. Mat Su Regional Medical Center, Palmer

4. Bartlett Regional Hospital, Juneau

5. Central Peninsula Hospital, Soldotna

6. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital

7. Alaska Native Medical Center, Anchorage