Maplewood Observes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Maplewood Township Committee observed National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Mammography Day through the reading of an official proclamation at Tuesday night's meeting.

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US than any cancer except lung cancer, the proclamation stated.

In 2013 an estimated 226,970 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women and 39,510 breast cancer deaths.

Maplewood Mayor Victor De Luca shared personal information about his own bother's battle with breast cancer, calling it a devastating illness.

“I would urge your mom, your sisters your wives, your daughters, to go get checked and do self checks,” he said. “Having gone through it with a loved one, it is a very difficult illness.”

Death rates from breast cancer have been declining and the decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, early detection through screening, an increased awareness and mammography, the proclamation said.

The Township declared October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Oct. 18 as Mammography Day.

The township “calls upon all citizens, private businesses, nonprofit organizations and all other interest groups to join in the activities that will increase their awareness and understanding of breast cancer and what they can do to prevent and control breast cancer and urge Maplewood to show support by 'Going Pink.'”