I often find scientific information, particularly statistics, a little overwhelming. Today, however, the stats I’m looking at are quite clear.  According to the American Cancer Society, 15,000 more women will celebrate birthdays this year thanks to declines in breast cancer death rates that resulted from improvements in breast cancer early detection and treatment — clearly a celebration is in order!

This is not only great news for anyone affected by or at risk for breast cancer, but also clear evidence that a world with less cancer really does lead to a world with more birthdays!  In fact, women’s chances of dying from breast cancer have been dropping for more than a decade — steady progress by any standard.

But before we break out the cake (red velvet of course!) and champagne, we need to be realistic.  Progress doesn’t mean that we can stop paying attention to breast cancer risk factors or chalk it up as a “treatable” disease.  In fact, here’s a quick reality check:

The American Cancer Society estimates that nearly 200,000 women (192,370 to be exact) will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and more than 40,000 will die from it.  That’s right, 40,000.

While it’s important that we take pride in our progress against breast cancer and celebrate the thousands more birthdays women will have this year because of it, there’s more we can do.  Let’s work to make next year’s statistics even better.  Here’s how you can help make it happen:

1. Get a mammogram!  There is clear evidence that getting a mammogram reduces your risk of dying from breast cancer.  (There’s a very cool reminder tool here, so no excuses!)
2. Eat right! Experts at the American Cancer Society remain very concerned that obesity could offset the progress we’ve made in the fight against breast cancer, so check out the nutrition recommendations here.
3. Get active! Commit to at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week—and if you can do more, even better!
4. Go easy on the alcohol! If you drink at all, the American Cancer Society recommends that women should limit intake to no more than one drink per day. And if you’re at high risk for breast cancer, you may want to consider not drinking alcohol at all. Be sure to talk to your doctor about what’s best for you.
5. Spread the word! Share simple tips for healthier living and cancer prevention with your friends and talk about risk factors with your family.

The more aware we are, the more we can help each other make good choices and celebrate more birthdays.