The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF) today announced the launch of the P&G Breast Cancer Awareness campaign to educate not only women, but also the men in their lives, about the importance of early detection. Because statistically one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, P&G and the NBCF are encouraging men to motivate the women in their lives to do whats best for their team by conducting regular self exams, scheduling regular medical exams and creating an early detection plan. If breast cancer is detected in the early (localized) stage, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent1. According to the American Cancer Society, routine breast self-exams and a predetermined early detection plan are the most powerful tools in the fight against breast cancer, and save thousands of lives every year2. To help spread this message of early detection, P&G has partnered with Chicago Bears Cornerback Charles Peanut Tillman, whose grandmother is a breast cancer survivor.
When one member of the team is down whether its in football or a family the whole team suffers, said Tillman. When my grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001, we rallied around her and tackled the disease as a team. Im happy to say that because of early detection, my grandma is still here today and key player on our family team. If we can save one life by spreading the simple message about the life-saving value of having and following through on an early-detection plan, then we have succeeded.
On Tuesday, October 22, P&G will lead the charge on encouraging men and women everywhere to spread the message of early detection and create an early detection plan by hosting the P&G Best Defense Day of Action alongside the Chicago Bears at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill. More than one hundred select local residents, media and social influencers will have the opportunity to tour the newly redesigned facility, learn about the importance of early detection from NBCF experts, and receive the tools to help them create their own early detection plan.
There is good news. According to the American Cancer Societys 2013 Annual Report3, death rates due to breast cancer continue to decline. However, while breast cancer rates are lower among non-Caucasian women, death rates are higher among African American and Latina women. In fact, every hour and a half a Latina woman dies of breast cancer in the United States4.
P&Gs Long-standing Breast Cancer Awareness Commitment
Now in its sixth year of partnering with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, P&G continues its commitment to early detection awareness and breast cancer education by proudly supporting the NBCFs mission to save lives through early detection and provide mammograms to those in need. Since 2008, P&G has donated more than $2.1 million to the NBCF, including a $500,000 donation in 2013.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer 33 years ago, but Im alive today thanks to early detection, said Janelle Hail, NBCF Founder & CEO. Thats why this years P&G Best Defense campaign is so important to women across America. Early detection of breast cancer is our best defense, and through the generous support of P&G, NBCF will be able to save lives by providing mammograms and early detection services for women in need.
Consumers who wish to support the NBCF directly, can make a secure donation at http://nbcf.org/breast-cancer-donations?pg.
P&Gs commitment to early detection starts from within, and employees who are survivors themselves are helping save lives by spreading the message of early detection. They are featured in the P&GbrandSAVER® coupon booklet (distributed Sunday, September 29); will be rallying discussion and action in social media; and their powerful and inspiring stories will be profiled on www.facebook.com/pgeveryday and www.pgeveryday.com/bca.
For additional campaign information and to learn how to participate in the Best Defense Day of Action, go to www.pgeveryday.com/bca visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/pgeveryday; follow the campaign on Twitter @pgeveryday; and participate in the Twitter party on October 22 at 3 p.m. ET, #PGBestDefense. To learn more about the importance of early detection in the fight against breast cancer, visit www.nbcf.org.
About the National Breast Cancer Foundation
Recognized as one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world, the National Breast Cancer Foundations (NBCF) mission is to save lives through early detection and to provide mammograms for those in need. A recipient of Charity Navigators highest 4-star rating for eight years, NBCF provides women Help for Today
Hope for Tomorrow® through its National Mammography Program, Beyond The Shock®, Early Detection Plan, MyNBCF online support community, and breast cancer research programs. For more information, please visit www.nbcf.org.
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves approximately 4.8 billion people around the world with its brands. The Company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Ace®, Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Duracell®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Fusion®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Iams®, Lenor®, Mach3®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, Prestobarba®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, Wella®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.
_______________________________________
1 National Cancer Institute
2 American Cancer Society: (American Cancer Society, 2011) http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BreastCancer/DetailedGuide/breast-cancer-detection
3 American Cancer Society: (American Cancer Society, 2013) http://www.cancer.org/Research/CancerFactsFigures/index
4 National Cancer Institute
