Breast Cancer Awareness Month

I know that this is a bit of a departure from one of my regular posts, not something you were expecting when you dropped by. This is a very important topic, if not for you, then for someone you love and care for.

October has been designated as breast cancer awareness month. There is one very simple reason that there is a month designated as breast cancer awareness month. That reason is the 212,000 (two hundred twelve thousand) women that will be diagnosed with new cases of breast cancer this year, and the almost 41,000 (forty one thousand) women who will die of breast cancer during 2006. It is estimated that one out of every 8 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.

The single most important factor in surviving breast cancer is early detection, and early detection can only come through awareness.

The following is a list of the basic breast health steps:

• Monthly breast self-examination beginning by age 20.Clinical breast examinations at least every 3 years beginning at age 20 and annually after age 40.


• Annual screening mammography beginning at age 40.


• Women under age 40 with a family history of breast cancer and other concerns about their personal risk should consult a trained medical professional about risk assessment and when to begin screening mammography.

For more information on breast cancer and breast health issues, go to the following sites:

The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization

The American Cancer Society

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