Think Pink this October

The month of October is the 29th annual National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), a campaign to increase awareness of this disease. Founded in 1985 by the American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries, NBCAM is the top campaign to raise awareness about the reality of breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women with one out of every eight women being diagnosed with the disease. There are many steps you can do to help raise awareness, support a friend, and catch the stages of cancer early on.

It can be hard to know what to say or do when someone you know is diagnosed with breast cancer. There are however many different ways to help, one of the best ways to help is to simply be there for them. It is proven that if a cancer patient is surrounded by a support system and loved ones they are more likely to have improved health.One of the major myths about breast cancer is that it affects only women. Actually, each year it is estimated over 2,000 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer. While this type of cancer affects more women, it is still recommend that men get checked for breast cancer as well. Men carry a higher mortality rate because awareness among men is less.

Screening test can find cancer early so getting regular tests is the best way for anyone to lower their risk of dying from breast cancer. There are also many other resources available to cancer patients. The American Cancer Society.org which helped provide thousands of free rides to treatment last year is one great resource. Also Susan G. Komen.org can provide support and help you find a treatment center nearest you.

Each year, over 220,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer. However, in recent years there has been a gradual reduction in female breast cancer deaths.  There are over 2.8 million survivors in the U.S. and the overall the death rate from breast cancer has been decreasing since about 1990. This is in part due to screening and early detection and improving treatments.

One of the easiest ways you can support breast cancer awareness is to go pink! It’s an easy way to show your support for victims and survivors by wearing pink whenever possible. Another way to show support is to take care of you. It’s a perfect time to start regular screen tests for breast cancer and encourage others to do the same.

Please join me this October in the fight against breast cancer.