The good news: Breast cancer deaths keep going down.

        The bad news: Growing numbers of women continue to be diagnosed with the disease.

        A mobile mammography van and information from 21 health organizations, women's groups and others gathered Tuesday at Fountain Square to kick off National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

        The carnival-style event, dubbed “Paint the Square Pink” included music from the Clarks and featured women wearing pink.

        Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and, in recent years, early detection and improved treatments have significantly improved women's odds of surviving it.

        In Hamilton County, the number of new female breast cancer cases has steadily climbed, from 571 in 2000 to 616 in 2001 to 668 predicted for 2002, according to the American Cancer Society.

        However, the number of deaths has steadily decreased, from 889 in 2000 to 867 in 2001 to a predicted 684 in 2002.

        “The huge drop in deaths from 2001 in addition to the increase in diagnoses tells me that early detection is paying off and that catching the disease earlier is saving lives,” said Lisa Maitre, spokeswoman for the Southwest Ohio chapter of the American Cancer Society.

        Groups that participated in the Tuesday event:

        American Cancer Society, Discovery Shop, Breast Cancer Alliance, Pink Ribbon Girls, Breast & Cervical Cancer Project, YWCA, FDA, Patterns, Barrett Cancer Center's Heredity Cancer Project, Women's Health Boutique, Mary Kay, Procter & Gamble/Tide, Kroger, Cancer Family Care, Proscan Women's Imaging, Mercy Fairfield Healthplex, Starbucks Coffee, Wellness Community, UC Cancer Programs, Q102 and the Health Alliance Mobile Mammography Van.

        E-mail tbonfield@enquirer.com

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