CDC reports decrease in breast cancer death rates

Breast cancer death rates among women decreased during 2010-2014, but racial differences persisted, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in this week's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The findings show changes for death rates from breast cancer by age group for black and white women, the groups with the highest death rates in the United States.

"Our latest data suggest some improvement for black women when it comes to disparities," said Lisa Richardson, MD, Director of CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. "First, the decline in deaths suggests that white and black women under 50 are benefitting equally from cancer treatments. Second, we're hopeful the lack of difference in death rates between black and white women under 50 will start to be seen in older women." 

Data highlights

• There was a faster decrease in breast cancer death rates for white women (‑1.9% per year) than black women (‑1.5 percent per year) between 2010 and 2014.
• Among women under age 50, breast cancer death rates decreased at the same pace for black and white women.
• The largest difference by race was among women ages 60–69 years: breast cancer death rates dropped 2.0 percent per year among white women, compared with 1.0 percent per year among black women.

The authors noted that the drop in death rates among women may be due to improved education about the importance of appropriate breast cancer screening and treatment, as well as women having access to personalized and cutting-edge treatment.

"The good news is that overall rates of breast cancer are decreasing among black women. However, when compared with white women, the likelihood that a black woman will die after a breast cancer diagnosis is still considerably higher," said Jacqueline Miller, M.D., and medical director of CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

What can be done to reduce breast cancer risk

Personalized medical treatments combined with community-based cancer control efforts that ensure adequate follow-up and treatment after a cancer diagnosis could help decrease breast cancer death rates faster and reduce differences among black and white women.

Women can take steps to help reduce their breast cancer risk by knowing their family history of cancer, being physically active, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and getting recommended cancer screenings.

CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services for low-income, uninsured, and underserved women. It is the largest organized cancer screening program in the U.S. and offers free or low cost mammograms to women who qualify.

CDC's Bring Your Brave campaign provides information about breast cancer to women younger than age 45 by sharing real stories about young women whose lives have been affected by breast cancer.

The United States Cancer Statistics web-based report contains the official federal statistics on newly diagnosed cancer cases.  CDC and the National Cancer Institute have combined their cancer incidence data sources to produce these statistics. Mortality data are from CDC's National Vital Statistics System. CDC provides support for states and territories to maintain registries that provide high-quality data through the National Program of Cancer Registries.

Millennials deconstructed: Our largest generation's beliefs about politics

The impending presidential election has already become one of the most tempestuous in history. As candidates continue to race toward the finish line in November, they are facing one of the most dynamically diverse voter groups in U.S. history, whose complexities and corresponding perspectives are important to understand in order to effectively appeal to the many unique cohorts that will sway election results.

Leading our nation's diversity, the Millennial generation consists of more than 44 percent ethnic minorities. Millennials have officially surpassed Baby Boomers as the largest generation, now comprising more than one quarter of the overall U.S. population. However, most noteworthy is the influence this now fully voting-age, ethnically diverse generation will have on upcoming elections.

A newly released study by Richards/Lerma and The University of Texas at Austin, Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations has uncovered key differences between Millennial ethnic segments regarding their perceptions and ideals regarding U.S. issues and politics.

The national study, "Millennials Deconstructed," was conducted among 1,000 Millennials aged 18-34 with representation across White, Black, Hispanic, and Asian ethnicities and reveals many counterintuitive assumptions that prove just how dynamic the social fabric of our nation has become.

A New Set of Ideals

As with past generations, Millennials are setting a unique drumbeat and defining their own vision of the world based on new values and ideals that are relevant to their life experiences. When presented a list of values to which they might personally relate, Millennials maintain more liberal views of the world today. The top five values Millennials believe to be of importance include:

1.      Employers should be required to pay the same salary to men and women who perform the same work

2.      Access to good healthcare should be a right granted to all Americans

3.      Good and accessible education should be a right of all U.S. citizens granted by the government

4.      The government should not be allowed to spy on communications, email, or social media

5.      There should be term limits set for members of Congress.

Key differences can be noted between different ethnic groups of Millennials, however. For instance, compared with other ethnic groups, Hispanic Millennials are more likely to believe the U.S. should require labeling of genetically engineered foods; White Millennials are significantly less likely to support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; while Asian Millennials are less apt to support the legalization of marijuana.

 Shifting American Pride

Surprisingly, it's Hispanic Millennials who maintain the greatest sense of American pride compared with other ethnicities. Fifty-four percent of Hispanic Millennials state they are "very proud" of being American despite being the least likely cohort to have a long lineage of heritage in the U.S. In contrast, White Millennials, who are more likely to have generations of American heritage, have the lowest levels of national pride at only 40 percent. Meanwhile, approximately 50 percent of African-American and Asian Millennials state they are very proud.

A More "Live and Let Live" Generation

For the most part, the issues Millennials believe are facing the country today are more liberal than those of the past. Overall, "Economy" is ranked by 50 percent of Millennials to be the leading issue facing the country today. However, this is followed by "Terrorism and National Security" (47%), "Debt and Spending" (43%), "Race Issues" (43%), and "Gun Control" (42%).

Collectively, Millennials are less concerned about abortion, same-sex marriage, foreign policy, and the declining influence of Judeo-Christian values.

Not surprisingly, "Race Issues" is believed to be the top concern the U.S. is facing today by African Americans and Hispanics, while Hispanics and Asians are more concerned with immigration.

Millennials take accountability for following U.S. politics and believe it is their responsibility to do so, with 70 percent agreeing it is somewhat, to very important. Compared with other ethnicities, Black Millennials are 10 percent more likely to be knowledgeable on current U.S. political issues and news.

Supporting Left of Center

As a whole, Millennials are more inclined to support the Democratic Party with 54 percent claiming the party is more representative of their beliefs. And while they may claim to support a particular party, approximately 31 percent have little to no understanding of what each political party even stands for. Hispanics have the lowest levels of understanding with more than 36 percent claiming they have little to no understanding of the key differences between parties.

Democratic and Republican parties alike have the opportunity to more clearly articulate their values and stances on fundamental issues to help educate and guide these more than 20 million estimated Millennials, especially among Hispanics.

Minorities will Lead Millennial Voting

Seventy-seven percent of Asian, Hispanic, and Black Millennials are fairly to absolutely certain they will vote in the coming 2016 elections, while a lesser 73 percent of Whites state they will vote, further highlighting the importance minority Millennial votes will have on coming elections.

Of Millennials who do not plan to vote in coming elections, approximately 16 percent, or an estimated 6 million Millennials, won't do so because they believe their vote will not make a difference.

Yet, while the majority of Millennials claim to be taking more responsibility for staying current about politics and plan to vote in coming elections, they are overall dissatisfied with the state of the U.S. political system today. According to the research, Millennials fail to rate the U.S. political system highly and question the integrity of the traditional two-party system.

Of all Millennial ethnic groups, Whites have the lowest perception of the current system with a mere 18 percent believing the current system is "Good" or "Excellent," compared with more than a quarter (27%) of Hispanic Millennials and one-third (33%) of Black and Asian Millennials.

 Millennials will only continue making their mark on the social fabric of the U.S. as they become more active political participants. The generation overall maintains common values, ideals, and beliefs, but key differences exist among the various ethnic sub-segments, which provide greater insights into this demographic. To more fully understand the motivating factors of this generation's political stances, these granular insights must be examined.

Insights such as Hispanic Millennials being more patriotic, yet having the lowest levels of understanding the key differences between Democratic and Republican parties, represent opportunities for politicians to help educate and direct these individuals on their party's values and stances.

Values such as Hispanic Millennials being more likely to desire labeling of GMOs; White Millennials being less likely to support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; and Asian Millennials being less likely to support marijuana legalization are all factors that must be understood by politicians in order to more fully connect with these constituents.

Perhaps the largest quandary to be addressed, however, is Millennials' overall dissatisfaction with today's traditional left/right political system. Their discontent begs the question of whether our current system can embrace and evolve with the demands that this generation and those to come will bring to the table.

To learn more about the Millennials Deconstructed research project and to download the comprehensive report, visit www.millennialsdeconstructed.com.

Cat maintains cash dividend in Q3

Caterpillar Inc. announced Wednesday it will maintain its quarterly cash dividend of 77 cents a share.

The company’s Board of Directors voted to maintain the dividend and make it payable Nov. 19 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 24.

"I am proud that we are once again maintaining Caterpillar's dividend, which extends our track record of paying higher annual dividends to shareholders for 23 consecutive years," said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman.

"Our balance sheet remains strong, we've taken action to improve our cost structure, and we're continuing to invest in our products to help improve growth and our competitive position over the long term. We are executing on these elements of our strategy while rewarding our shareholders, even in down cycles, because it's a priority," Oberhelman said.

Since 2007, the company's cash dividend has more than doubled. Caterpillar has paid a cash dividend every year since the company was formed in 1925 and has paid a quarterly dividend since 1933, the company said.

Caterpillar will announce its third quarter earnings on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Caterpillar stock closed Wednesday at $87.58 a share, up 11 cents.

Cat Chorus celebrates 75 years of making music

There is a group at Caterpillar Inc. that has nothing to do with big machines made of yellow iron that are turning and pushing dirt. It is a group that doesn’t get paid for making patented plans or making sure every bolt fits perfect.

And yet, this group has been together 75 years now, making music that is not accentuated by shifting gears, the clang of steel on steel or the roar of diesel engines. But it is an integral part of the Caterpillar culture, as are the musicals and other shows it produces.

The Caterpillar Employees Mixed Chorus, founded in 1941, is the longest running employee chorus in the world, said Henry Vicary, Caterpillar’s director of guest and community relations.

And the chorus still is strong within the company and this week, its newest show, “The Little Mermaid,” opens for Caterpillar employees, retirees and the public to enjoy.

“Our employees, retirees and their families in the chorus have tremendous talent and are very engaged throughout our communities. We feel like it’s an absolutely integral part of the Caterpillar family. It’s one piece of a large puzzle that provide the glue that keeps Caterpillar strong,” Vicary said.

“The Little Mermaid” opens a five-performance run at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Eastlight Theatre in the auditorium at East Peoria High School. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $11 and can be purchased by visiting www.

“This is going to be a fun show to see. I know it’s been a fun show to be part of,” said Lee Wenger, the well-known Peoria showman who is directing the Caterpillar show this year. It’s his third time directing the Cat show.

The shows themselves must be cast with Caterpillar employees, their families and retirees, but the company will find directors and crew from outside the company. Wenger’s wife, Denise Adams, is music director and orchestra conductor for “The Little Mermaid.”

“We have a great cast with people who really carry a show. There are fewer than there used to be in the Cat show, but they are a good group,” Wenger said in noting anybody from Caterpillar can participate.

“The Little Mermaid” is marking its regional premiere with an adult cast with this production, Wenger said. Based on the fairy tale written by Hans Christian Andersen, it tells the story of a young mermaid who dreams of being part of the world above the sea. She gives up her voice to find love.

The musical was written by Doug Wright with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater. Songs include “The World Above,” “I Want the Good Times Back,” “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl” and “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”

“Anybody familiar with the show knows there are a lot of funny characters in this show. They really make them stand out here,” Wenger said about his cast of more than 60. He said at least half have been in Caterpillar productions before but many are new to the experience. “There is always a lot of family involvement because it really is a good was for employees to do something with their families,” he said.

That’s why the Caterpillar Mixed Chorus usually produces family friendly shows.

The first show it produced was in 1942 called “South of Sonora.” While that one isn’t exactly well known, most shows through the years have been family war horses like “The Music Man,” “The Sound of Music,” “Annie,” “Oliver” and “Peter Pan,” to name just a few.

Many of the performers from the Caterpillar Employee Mixed Chorus became well known in local community theatre, as well. They include people such as Jerry Johnson and the late Mike Dentino. Current community theatre stalwarts who can be seen in the Caterpillar shows include Jeff Craig, who played Henry Higgins in “My Fair Lady” a few  years ago, Chip Johnson, who portrayed Maurice in the Eastlight Theatre production of “Beauty and the Beast” and few months ago, and Mariah Aberle, who has appeared in many community theatre productions.

For many years the Caterpillar Chorus produced its musicals at the Shrine Auditorium downtown but it moved to the Peoria Civic Center Theatre after it opened in 1982. It then moved to Eastlight a few years ago.

The Caterpillar Employee Mixed Chorus performs at different events during the year, including this summer at Dozer Park, home of the Peoria Chiefs. Later this year it will perform at the Caterpillar Visitors Center.

An exhibit about the Caterpillar Employee Mixed Chorus will open at the Visitors Center on Dec. 8.