- Breast cancer is the most common cancer among New Zealand women, with more than 2500 new cases expected this year - also approximately 20 men will be diagnosed.
- More than 600 women will die from the disease this year - making it the leading cause of cancer-related death in females.
- 1 in 9 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.
- 90-95% of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have no family history of the disease.
- Getting older is the most common risk factor: over 70% of new cases are among women 50years and over.
- Women of all ages, especially those over the age of 40 years, need to be ‘breast aware'.
- Early detection of breast cancer increases a woman's chance of survival. Today, close to 85% of NZ women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive 5 years or more, and the death rate has decreased by nearly 24% between1995-20054.
- New Zealand's free, nationwide breast screening programme, BreastScreen Aotearoa, checks women with no breast cancer symptoms - ‘well' women - for early breast cancer between 45-69 years of age with a screening mammogram every two years.
Source: NZ Breast Cancer Foundation website.
I am sure most of you have been affected in some way by breast cancer whether it is from personal experience or you know someone who has or has had the disease. The Breast Cancer Foundation does amazing work and raises the profile of breast cancer in NZ. It relies totally on grants and donations so we try to support them each year by having a pink cupcake week. We have no problems selling them at work...the hospital is a pretty big place and there are always hungry staff!! In fact last year, we had so many pre-orders we couldn't keep up! All proceeds go to the Foundation.
I have been baking cupcakes all day and here is a little sample of what they look like.
Your cupcakes look absolutely delicious, delightful and delectable. I love cupcakes, but I think my kids love them more :-)
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