Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I thought it would be appropriate to do some comparisons. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be 207,090 new invasive breast cancer cases each year. That is a little less than 1 in 8 women. Yet, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year. That is 1 in 4 women. About 39, 840 women die each year from breast cancer. According to police records, 1/3 of female homicide victims are killed by a husband or boyfriend each year. The Family Violence Prevention Fund reports that 3 women each day are killed by an intimate partner. Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer have many treatment options. While she can take the expert advice of her oncologist, the woman has to decide for herself. There are lots of choices and all of them are frightening. She can only decide when she is ready, but experts say that sooner is better. When a woman finally accepts that she is a victim of domestic violence, there are many choices for her. She is offered legal assistance, shelter, counseling, Protective Orders, hotlines to call, advocates to speak with, workplace assistance, relocation assistance, even Address Confidentiality. There are so many things that she must decide, and it can be frightening. She can only leave when she is ready, but experts say that sooner is better than later. Costs related to breast cancer have not been released. Domestic violence victims lose 7.9 million paid workdays each year, totaling about $727.8 million. The cost of domestic violence has exceeded $5.8 billion each year, with $4.1 billion going to direct medical and mental health services, most of which is paid by the employer. I hope this puts into perspective how this is a problem that affects everyone: the victim, the children, the community, the workplace, and the economy!
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 03:45:07 +0000
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