The public is invited to attend a "Breast Cancer Brunch and Learn" Tuesday, October 28, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Lincoln County Health Department on Peachtree Street.

The event is being sponsored by the health department, the American Cancer Society, and the University Hospital Breast Health Center in conjunction with Breast Cancer Prevention and Awareness Month.

University Hospital's Digital Mobile Mammography Unit travels to Lincolnton on a monthly basis, performing an average of 25 mammograms per visit. Since 2003, the unit has administered over 1,100 mammograms and diagnosed three women with breast cancer.

In addition to the latest information concerning the prevention and early detection of breast cancer, the brunch will also feature plenty of food, goody bags, and door prizes. Some facts about breast cancer include:

.. Early detection can save lives. Also, it often means less surgery.

.. Women should have yearly mammograms, starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as they are in good health.

.. The risk of breast cancer increases with age. More than threefourths of the breast cancers diagnosed each year occur in women over age 50. Moreover, a woman of 70 is almost twice as likely to develop breast cancer as a woman of 50.

.. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

.. The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer at some point during her life is about one in eight.

.. About 48,480 women will die from the disease this year.

.. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about one in 35.

.. Breast cancer death rates are going down, probably as the result of finding the cancer earlier and improved treatment.

.. Right now, there are about twoand a half million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

"We heartily encourage all interested parties to attend this 'Brunch and Learn' to become more informed about breast cancer prevention and detection," said Emma Smith, cancer survivor and patient navigator for the health department. "It's a brunch that could save a life."

Since space is limited, participants are asked to call Smith at 706-359- 7345 and leave a message to make a reservation for the event.