October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, promoting awareness of the disease, along with the stories of survivors and those who lost their lives. Numerous breast cancer organizations also hold fundraisers to help generate money for research on treatments to help patients.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. An estimated 43,700 American women will die in 2023 from the disease. When caught early however, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent. There are currently 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the country.

For more information, visit Breast Cancer (illinois.gov) .