Breast Cancer Awareness Month… How YOU Can Help Save Lives!
Did you know that in 2006, more than 212,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur, and nearly 41,000 women are predicted to die from the disease? Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate; it affects women of all ages, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), and for more than 20 years Americans have celebrated it to emphasize the importance of early detection, raise funds for research, and educate women. NBCAM is also a time to recognize breast cancer survivors, those battling the disease, and family and friends who tirelessly offer their love and support to these individuals. Here is how you can participate in this national campaign:
Get the Facts. Excluding skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting women; its incidence generally increases with age. Factors thought to raise a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer include: age, family history, age at first full-term pregnancy, early menarche, and late menopause. Strategies to reduce your risk include avoiding obesity and weight gain, increasing physical activity, and minimizing alcohol intake.
Schedule a Mammogram. Without question, mammograms save lives. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), mammography is the single most effective way of detecting breast cancer early, as it can identify the disease several years before physical symptoms develop. The ACS recommends that women ages 40 and older have an annual mammogram and clinical breast exam. Women ages 20–39 should have a clinical breast exam every three years.
Stamp out Breast Cancer. In July of 1998, the United States Postal Service issued the Breast Cancer Research stamp. Since its release, millions of dollars have been raised for this cause. The stamp costs 45 cents, with 6 cents going toward research. The stamp itself was designed by a breast cancer survivor and depicts the goddess Diana, who in Roman mythology was the protector of women. Purchase Breast Cancer Research Stamps at your local post office or online at www.usps.com.
Donate to a cancer charity. Honor a survivor or memorialize a loved one with a donation to a cancer charity, like the Georgia Cancer Foundation (GCF) for its Bosom Buddies programs. Donors are the building blocks of our Foundation. When you make a contribution, your name as well as the person you are recognizing will be added to the “donor wall” listed on our web site.
Do a good deed for someone undergoing treatment. Women undergoing treatment often find it difficult to ask others for help. Make a specific offer to go grocery shopping, cook a meal, drive them to chemotherapy appointments, run errands, or just listen!
Campaign for the cause. Breast Cancer Awareness month is the perfect time to lobby for important breast cancer initiatives. Write a letter to government officials expressing your desire for additional appropriations for breast cancer funding and research.
Show your support. October may be the month for ghosts and goblins but it’s also the time to show your support for this cause, so dress in pink and wear the ribbon!
Volunteer your time. Get involved, share your talents, and participate in fundraisers for organizations like GCF. If you would like to help GCF and its affiliate programs Bosom Buddies of Georgia and ChemoChic, call our office at 770-640-5529 ext.10.
Spread the Word. Finally, in order for NBCAM to have a greater impact on the lives of American women, each of us need to encourage others to take charge of our own breast health. Whether by practicing regular self-breast exams or making sure your mother, sister, aunt, or friend schedules an annual mammogram, everything you do makes a difference in the fight against breast cancer.
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