Your face and your story may help save a life.

Roughly 12 percent of women (1 in 8) in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer. In 2016, an estimated 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed, along with 61,000 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.

Early diagnosis is critical for survival. The numbers don’t lie.

Approximately 40,000 women will die from breast cancer this year. Death rates from breast cancer have been dropping since about 1989, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments.

For our annual Breast Cancer Awareness series in October, The Press is requesting that local breast cancer survivors tell their own story in 400 words or less. We’ll publish as many stories with a photograph as possible.

These breast cancer survivor stories will raise awareness of the disease and hopefully inspire everyone. If only one person is saved because they decide to get a lump checked out or they schedule a mammogram because it’s been a while, this effort will be deemed a success.

So spread the word — The Press wants to share your personal story of survival.

Please submit your story to [email protected] or call Marc Stewart at (208) 664-8176 ext. 2011.

Did you know?

There are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society.