Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is breast cancer awareness month. According to the American Cancer Society, 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be found in the United States in 2011. This should prompt us to focus on gaining support for awareness, research and finding a cure. We have lost far too many women to this potentially deadly disease. Everyone has likely been affected by breast cancer in one way or another. You may have experienced it yourself, have someone close to you who has or know of others who have. 

With regular self-examinations and routine medical check-ups, early warning signs may be detected. Early detection is the best chance of survival. Mammograms have saved thousands of lives by detecting cancerous lumps that produce no symptoms and cannot be felt. Generally speaking, mammograms are performed on women starting at the age of 40. Those who are considered at high risk due to a family history are frequently encouraged to begin having them done even younger. 

Please support the cause by being proactive about your own breast health, encouraging and supporting those who have it and getting involved in some of the many opportunities to volunteer or support the cause in another way. Following are some resources to check out to see how you can become involved or to learn more about breast cancer. You can share your own personal story, make a donation, sign up for an event or become a partner or sponsor.

• National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Susan G. Koman for the Cure
• National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

There are many upcoming local opportunities to get involved and meet other people who care as much as you do about fighting for the cause to find a cure for breast cancer.

• 2011 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Eau Claire - Walk Event - on Saturday,
  October 22, 2011
• Columbia St. Mary's 2011 Bucks Bowl for the Cure of Sheboygan on
  Friday, October 28, 2011
• 2012 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Milwaukee  - Walk Event - on Saturday,
  May 5, 2012 

Go Pink!