October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

How many people reading this have personally been affected by the loss of a loved one to Breast Cancer? Who has lost a mother, wife, sister or good friend? Perhaps an aunt, cousin, neighbor, co-worker or acquaintance, and it seems virtually impossible not know someone who lost their battle to Breast Cancer.  Hopefully you know a few “lucky ones” who are in remission, or as we like to appropriately call them, “survivors”.

According to statistics, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. Breast cancer is currently the 2nd most common kind of cancer in women, after skin cancer (so please be careful in the sun too!).

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of screening and the early detection of breast cancer.  The good news is that many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early.

More information can be found at http://healthfinder.gov/NHO/OctoberToolkit.aspx and http://www.cancer.org/healthy/morewaysacshelpsyoustaywell/breastcancer

It is time to put an end to breast cancer!

Reprinted (with edits) for October 2014

May is National Cancer Research Month

Most people already know that October is National Breast Cancer Month.  Some may even know that September is National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. What many people probably don’t know is that May is National Cancer Research Month (as passed by Congress in 2007).

Cancer patients, survivors and medical experts all agree: cancer research saves lives. Today, there are over 12 million cancer survivors in the United States. Many of these survivors could not have made it without all the advances in scientific research. Those advances have helped improve people’s health and enabled many to live longer lives.

Countless people have been affected by cancer in one fashion or another, whether a family member, relative, co-worker or friend. For me, it’s personal.  I lost both my mother and sister to cancer.

Cancer affects the young and old alike. It does not discriminate by age, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or any other factor.  Let’s get real… Cancer Sucks!

For more information on cancer research, please visit:

American Association for Cancer Research http://www.aacr.org/
American Institute for Cancer Research http://www.aicr.org.
American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/research/researchprogramsfunding/research-programs-and-funding-landing

I have faith that, one day, all the great research will lead to a cure for cancer.  My only hope is that they find a cure soon, so more lives can be saved. When that day comes, we can celebrate only one “cancer month”, the month to celebrate the cure for all cancers.

This Sunday we will celebrate Mother’s Day.  Wishing all mothers a very happy and healthy Mother’s Day!

 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

How many people reading this have personally been affected by Breast Cancer? Who has lost a mother, wife, sister or good friend? Add to that aunts, cousins, neighbors, co-workers and acquaintances, and it seems virtually impossible not know someone who has been affected by Breast Cancer. Who knows the “lucky ones” who are currently in remission?

According to statistics, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. Breast cancer is currently the 2nd most common kind of cancer in women, after skin cancer (so please be careful in the sun too!).

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to raise awareness about the importance of screening and the early detection of breast cancer.

The good news? Many women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram can help find breast cancer in the early stages.

I found several great suggestions on http://healthfinder.gov. Advice on questions for your doctor can be found here – http://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/doctor-visits/talking-with-the-doctor/mammograms-questions-for-the-doctor (thankfully, even during a government shutdown, this site is still working to bring awareness, hope and health).

You can also find more at http://www.nbcam.org/ “Since its inception more than 25 years ago, NBCAM has been at the forefront of promoting awareness of breast cancer issues and has evolved along with the national dialogue on breast cancer”.

Let’s keep that dialogue going, and let’s put an end to breast cancer!