Cancer By The Numbers

In 2008, an estimated 60,000 Canadian women will be diagnosed with cancer (over 22,400 from breast cancer alone) and an estimated 25,000 women will die.

Based on current incidence rates*, cancer is the leading cause of premature death in Canada: 40% of women will develop cancer during their lifetimes. Fortunately, the odds of survival today have increased dramatically, thanks to medical advances and scientific breakthroughs. There has been a steady decline in overall breast cancer mortality since 1986, and the most recent data shows that the breast cancer death rate to be the lowest since 1950.

Virtually everyone has been touched by cancer in some way. Mary Kay's personal encounter came in 1980 when her husband, Mel Ash, died of lung cancer. Subsequently, each time a member of the extended Mary Kay family was diagnosed, she became even more determined to work to find a cure.

* Canadian Cancer Society, 2008