Shades of fall are just beginning to reveal themselves as the days grow shorter and the air begins to acquire a cool, crisp feel. With the arrival of October one might consider the highlight of the month to be its very last day. After all, who would not pause to enjoy the excitement and fun of masked children searching diligently throughout the neighborhood for candy and treats! Still, there is another significant event associated with October that often goes unnoticed because so many other things are vying for our time and attention. I take notice in this blog entry because of its importance and relevance to practically everyone. The event is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We need to not only be aware of this important event, but we also need to stand ready to support the cause to discover a cure!
The statistics are alarming:
- About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12.4%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime.
- In 2018, an estimated 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 63,960 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
- About 2,550 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2018. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
- As of January 2018, there are more than 3.1 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.
- A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, and daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.(www.breastcanacer.org)
My mother succumbed to breast cancer in 1977 after discovering a lump in her breast nine months earlier. She discovered the lump from a self-examination. It is hard to believe that she has been gone for more than 40 years now, but breast cancer is relentless and unfortunately takes advantage of the occupied mind by going unnoticed and undiscovered until it is too late. That is why it is so important to schedule regular checkups with your local physician, as well as learn how to personally conduct self-examinations in hopes of early detection.
Many will notice the flower shop window filled with pink flowers and displaying two large pink ribbons in recognition of this important issue. Please be sure to take the time to remember those who have lost their lives to this non-discriminating disease, as well as those who are still struggling with it. Pink is the color for the month, so when you are given a chance to support breast cancer research and awareness, be proud to display your own choice of pink to let others know you care. Pink is the colorful statement for breast cancer awareness, whether it is a pink ribbon, t-shirt, carnation, rose, or lily.
Thank you in advance for helping to call attention to this urgent and important medical matter and supporting those who are bravely living in spite of the disease with the hope of more effective treatments and an eventual cure.
