The United States Postal Service will be promoting breast cancer research through stamp sales for the ninth year.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins October 1. Carissa Surprise, officer-in-charge of the Amherst Post Office, will be joining other offices in Massachusetts to promote the sale of Breast Cancer Research (BCR) stamps.

“This unique semi-postal stamp has a dual purpose,” said Surprise. “Not only does it represent the first class postage rate in effect at the time of purchase, but the cost over and above this rate goes directly into breast cancer research.”

By law, 70 percent of the net amount raised is given to the National Institutes of Health and 30 percent is given to the Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense.

“Customers buying sheets of BCR stamps at $11 will be given the opportunity to sign a ‘Reach for a Cure’ card that will be displayed in the Post Office showing their support to help fund and find a cure for the killer disease,” said Surprise.

According to statistics, about 185,000 women and 1,400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and nearly 46,000 of those will die from the disease.

The BCR stamp was first issued in July 1998, and since, $53 million has been raised through sales.

Holly Seabury can be reached at [email protected].