the report showed that women and families in comb maryland service area -- komen maryland service aread high death rates from breast cancer. that is why maryland komen officials say routine checkups are really important. ask what we hope is that people will get a little bit tuned into breast cancer awareness and will think about what they've done in terms of their own health and have they had their mammogram this year and had their clinical breast exam? >> reporter: according to komen, maryland has the fifth highest cancer rate in the country. african-american women in maryland do not have as high as incidence of breast cancer as white women but have a higher death rate when compared to white women. this means once diagnosed an african-american woman has a better chance of dying from breast cancer than a white woman. and more than 800 women in maryland will die of breast cancer this year. the race is october 18th. for more information go to abc2news.com. click on the "think pink" tab at the top of the page. reporting live in downtown baltimore, sherr sure, abc2 news. >>> time now 6:55.

the report shows women and families in komen maryland service area showed high death rates from breast. that is why maryland komen officials say frequent checkups are the key. >> what we hope is that people will get a little bit tuned in to breast cancer awareness and will think about what they've done in terms of their own health and have they had their mammogram this year and had their clinical breast exam. >> reporter: according to komen, maryland has the fifth highest cancer rate in the country. african-american women in maryland do not have an incidence of breast cancer as white women but have a higher death rate when compared to white women. that means once diagnosed a african-american woman has a higher chance of dying from breast cancer than a white woman. more than 800 million women in maryland will be dying from breast cancer this year. it's sunday, october 18th. for more information go to abc2news.com, click on "think pink" in the top righthand corner. sherrie johnson, abc2 news. >>> a look at the other top stories we're working on. look at this wreck. one is in handcuffs af

the report shows that women and families in the komen maryland service area showed high death rates from breast cancer. that is why maryland komen officials say routine checkups are very important. >> it's the opportunity for people to know their own bodies and to take care of themselves and advocate for their own health and to get involved with getting diagnosed early enough so that you can have your screening and your treatment at an earlier phase and have the best results or the best opportunities for staying healthy and living a longer life. >> reporter: according to komen, maryland has the fifth highest cancer rate in the country. african-american women in maryland do not have as high as incidence of breast cancer as white women but have a higher death rate. that means after diagnosis a african-american woman has more chance of dying from it than a white woman. the race is sunday, october 18th. for more information on how to register or donate go to abc2news.com. click on the tab "think pink." reporting live in downtown baltimore, sherrie johnson, abc2 news. >>> this is "jeopardy"!

maryland. the report showed women and families in the komen service area showed high death rates from breast cancer. that is why maryland komen officials say frequent checkups are key. >> it's the opportunity for people to know their own bodies and to take care of themselves and advocate for their own health and to get involved with getting diagnosed early enough so that you can have your screening and your treatment at an earlier phase and have the best results or the best opportunities for staying healthy and living a longer life. >> reporter: according to komen, maryland has the fifth highest cancer rate in the country. african-american women in maryland don't have as high an instance as white women but have a higher death rate than white women. that means once diagnosed a african-american woman has a better chance of dying from breast cancer than a white woman. the race for the cure is scheduled for sunday, october 18th. you can head to abc2news.com and you can click on the "think pink" tab for more information. reporting live in downtown baltimore, sherrie johnson, abc2 news. >>> 5:05. ' tis t

komen maryland also found african-american women face unique breast cancer issues. while they don't have as high as incidence as white women african-americans do have a higher death rate. while baltimore city's overall death rate is lower than state and national averages. breast cancer death rate is higher for women under 50. komen maryland says many of the deaths can be avoided with proper screening and care. that organization is working toward improving health care in the areas with the most critical provider shortages. they will raise funding and breast cancer awareness at this october's race for the cure. abc2 is a proud supporter of that race. joce sterman, abc2 news. >>> it's too soon to tell whether he changed any minds but president obama's big health care speech last night gained a lot of attention. in a marked change of tone the president dismissed those opposing his reforms and urged congress to what he called a season of action to make the plan law. here's viviana hurtado. >> reporter: the president kept up the pressure to pass health care reform legisla

according to komen, maryland has the fifth highest in the country are, -- as white women but have a higherdeath rate when compared to white women. this means once diagnosed an african american woman has a greater chance of dying of breast cancer than a white woman and nearly 800 will die of breast cancer this year. the race is scheduled for monday, october 18th. reporting live,. >>> all right. we are will see you at 9:00 here this morning with good morning maryland a lot of topics and you will be interested in every single one of them. we will see you at 9:00. >>> whoa. whoa. >> it was. >> still takes our breath away, this scary crash, involving nascar's joey legano, in the sprint cup championship. >> and the driver's side. you can't figure out where he was. how did he make it out? >> he walked away virtually unscathed. in a moment, how did he do it? he's going to tell us. that ride in his own words. he'll tell us that. good morning, america. alongside diane, i'm robin. >> saying good-bye to september this morning. >>> also this morning, they've gone their separate ways in real life. now,

komen race for the cure in maryland.is morning we have a story of one breast cancer survivor being honored. >> we want to bring in michelle and also geralyn. they join us this morning from new york city. good morning. >> good morning. >> michelle, you are with the women of hope and beautiful. tell us about your organization helping women with breast cancer. >> i am a breast cancer survivor and i attended a look good feel better seminar while starting the beginning of my chemo treatment. i was excited to receive a flyer about the look good/feel better. i attended the seminar and just thought it was a fantastic, you know, way to help women cope with the inevidentableses of going through chemo, losing hair, eyebrows, eyelashes, self-esteem. >> you're also a breast cancer survivor as well as author. what did you hope to accomplish with your book? >> hi, megan. first of all, thanks for sponsoring the race. means so much to us. my book is called "why i wore lipstick to my mastectomy." i did wear lipstick and i found out michel

komen for the cure to raise awareness about breast cancer. tonight city hall will have a pink glow. maryland is rank fifth in the nation for breast cancer death rates this. year alone it's estimated 810 maryland women will die from breast cancer. in the fight fewer women are dying from breast cancer in the u.s. but the despairities in death rates still exist between whites and blacks. according to the merch cancer society breast cancer deaths dropped but african-american women still have a higher risk of death than white women. overall the american cancer society says the number of breast cancer deaths has dropped because of improved treatments and increased mammography screening rates. of course abc2 is a very proud sponsor of the susan g. komen race for the cure. economic out abc2news.com -- check out abc2news.com and our "think pink" page for details on the race, how the city and state is supporting breast cancer awareness and most importantly, how you can help out. >>> the tsunami in the south africa hits home for -- the tsunami in the south pacific hits home for a ravens player. more on