Running head: THE INFORMATION AND THE FACTS 1

The Information and The Facts

11/12/2017

The University of Texas at El Paso

John Jacobs
THE INFORMATION AND THE FACTS 2

Abstract

This is a paper about breast cancer and the lack of attention paid to groups that you may fall in

when informing people of the risks of the disease. When it comes to age, gender, as well as

ethnicity the information provided is not specific among these categories. It is generally spoken

about in a lot of avenues where they try to raise money for the funding of research and informing

you of the facts. Through my research I found that there are a multitude of outlets met to inform,

but do not specifically tell you when and who are at risk.
THE INFORMATION AND THE FACTS 3

Breast cancer is well recognized across the world, with multiple outlets for funding the

research in finding the cure. There are multiple types of breast cancer so having a large support

group to fund the research is important. Sadly the disease still takes the life of man and woman

in society today. There was predicted 40,610 woman expected to die in 2017 from breast cancer

based of patterns found in studies. With the development of technology since the year of 1989

until the present the number of positive diagnosis has decreased at a continues rate. Although the

rate is dropping. The information is generalized, but not made specific for people depending on

what group you may fall into. These groups being age, gender, as well as ethnicity.

With breast cancer death rates second highest to lung cancer, as well as being the most

commonly diagnosed cancer in woman, early recognition is important. It allows you to prevent

and help you recover better. So when it comes to the subject in everyday advertising such as

commercials, or public speaking events generally feature older woman. Even though these

commercials contain helpful information the target audience plays a major role in who consumes

the information. Its harder to relate to the commercial and take it serious in your everyday life.

Studies done by the American Cancer Society show that 5000 teens aging from age fifteen to

nineteen are diagnosed every year with breast cancer in the United States of America. Thats ten

years before doctors recommend you begin getting mammogram screening. Most doctors

recommend that you start your mammogram screening at the age of twenty-five years old. At the

age of fifty they tell you that you should get checked more frequently. Doctors agree that by the

age of fifty you should get screened every two to three years depending on results. The disease is

not limited to age, and neither should the information or target audience of commercials.

Genomics is a testing method developed to tell you what cancer you have based of the tumor
THE INFORMATION AND THE FACTS 4

found and can help with the treatment. This testing is beneficial but not something easily sold to

those that it does not apply to. As well as others that share there stories of the disease and going

through the recovery process are typically older. Organization that get these events together

target older guest speakers making it harder for younger people to feel affected by the

information being discussed. By placing so much information in commercials that dont grab the

attention of younger girls less cases can be prevented. It is not properly passed on to the younger

generation of woman allowing them to not protect themselves.

When it comes to gender breast cancer rank very high when talking about common

cancers that men are vulnerable to get in their lives. Among these cancers that men can get that

rank higher than breast cancer, none of them have a higher death rate. For men breast cancer

diagnosis is almost twenty times less than that of woman, but the knowledge should be passed on

to men as well at the same rate as woman with the same end result in either gender. Last year in

2016 440 men lost their lives to breast cancer and were not diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast

cancer affect the community in many different categories, so the information should not be made

with limitations to gender. Woman have a five percent higher chance of survival when diagnosed

with breast cancer, making it that much more important for men to know the risks of breast

cancer. The National Football League is one of many supporters to the funding of breast cancer

awareness, but they do not make the information specific. The National Football League has the

highest television rating in the world today more than any other sport. Most of their viewers

being men this would be the best platform in informing men of the risks of breast cancer, and it

is not done. Although the number of men that die after being diagnosed with breast cancer is far

less than that of woman it is still an issue in the community and can be resolved with saved lives.
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Ethnicity when it comes to cancer is not something that should matter, but it in fact does

play a role. When it comes to breast cancer Caucasian woman are diagnosed at a 1.3 percent

higher rate than African American, pacific islanders, and Hispanic. Most commercials that

feature survivors or reference getting screened show you older Caucasian woman. Since 2000

these number have come to an equal amount of diagnosis per year. Since the number is so much

closer now the verity of content in informative commercials should be more diverse as the times

are changing. Using different ethnicities of not only woman but men as well would help prevent

and improve the treatment and survival rate for the specific ethnic group.

Ideally when breast cancer is brought up the thought and picture that you initially think of

is not the reality of the disease. The information in generalized across the board in categories

throughout the community. As breast cancer is a deadly disease I feel that the information should

be made specific to what group you may fall into. With a full understanding of the disease by

both men and woman the prevention and survival rate once the disease is found would increase.

With the amount of funding that goes into breast cancer awareness a cure can be found in the

coming future. Until then the information should be more versatile and ranger further when

talking about what group is affected and how they are affected by the disease.
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References

Cancer.net Editorial Board (04/17)

Breast Cancer Introduction. Retrieved November 02, 2017 from

https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/breast-cancer/introduction

American Cancer Society (02/17)

Cancer in Adolescents. Retrieved November 2, 2017from

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-in-adolescents/key-statistics.html

Breast Cancer.org (03/17)

U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics. Retrieved November 1, 2017 from

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/understand_bc/statistics