Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
I was penned with the pink ribbon in Macy's last Thursday.

If you have every had a family member or friend suffering from breast cancer you know how important it is to assist someone and being there for an individual who is told that they will loose a breast, loose their hair, loose their self esteem,and be mentally challenged with serious contemplation in the will to live.

Yes, it is an ugly wake up call if you take life for granted.
It is also "a true friend tester" when you get the news from a family member or a friend.

This is the advocacy site, which sends updates and news releases on the truth of what breast cancer is and preventative measures:

http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/know/31-truths-2011/email-signup-ty.html

Here is the progress report, which gives you information on how we are progressing in ending the disease with a noble goal of 2020 . . .

http://www.breastcancerdeadline2020.org/2020/progress-reports.html

But the reality is in 2011 alone, "39,840 women and 390 men
will die of breast cancer. While a slight decrease in mortality is an accomplishment, it is far from success". The disease on an average is diagnosed at age 61. The rate is decreasing in white women. It is still very high for urban women and women of color.

Look to our calendar of events for "Breast Cancer Awareness" activities, discussion groups, physical running and walking races in the Los Angeles County region designed to raise funds, awareness, and to build sisterhood networks on breast cancer.

And at your earliest convenience get a mammography exam, become aware of those foods we gorge on that increase cancerous tissues, wear and make your own pink ribbons, learn as much as you can, write a check to a breast foundation, be there for a friend or family member who needs support while going through chemotherapy or other wranglings with cancer. Read a white paper on the features and facts of breast cancer. Volunteer at your local hospital or out clinic and inform others on what you learn. If you have long hair contribute it to a service that makes wigs for patients who loose their hair during treatment, do so and challenge your other acquaintances to do the same. Familiarize yourself with The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (Komen), The American Cancer Society (ACS), the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) to name a few.

Bottomline, do something . . . Peace out, Minerva