But if you are under 30 years old you're going to find it with a self exam. Francie Larrieu Smith, an olympian and the National Honorary Chair of the Race, strongly agrees with Duncan's perspective. Early detection is the most important thing. Duncan mentions that she has known women in their twenties who have been diagnosed with the disease. No longer is it assumed to hit women over 40.
Men can also be victims of breast cancer.
Smith explains that there are about 1,400 men diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and from that about 290 will die from the disease. But we are showing the world there is life after breast cancer. During her speech to the crowd, Kipner explains that the biggest risk factor for getting breast cancer is being a female with breasts. Anything from 70 to 80 percent of breast cancer does not originate from family history and an estimated 43,900 women will die in 1997 from this disease alone. However, her speech ends on an uplifting note.