Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Pink Ribbon Shows Support for Breast Cancer
It's a disease that affects one in eight women if a woman lives long enough.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.>br>Doctor Greg Boone is a surgeon at Licking Memorial Hospital and hopes one thing will come out of this year's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
"That we can raise everyone's awareness. Even those people who have not been touched by it. So that we can hopefully either prevent the disease from happening or find it at its earliest possible stage," says Greg Boone, general Surgeon at Licking Memorial Hospital.

Boone says breast cancer can appear out of nowhere and it's the "un-luck" of the draw if you get it.

"We can't prevent breast cancer from happening. It's a common illness that will affect one in eight women in this country if they live long enough."

Boone tells us breast cancer's impact can be minimized if detected early and there are three ways to do that.

"If we can detect it early, then it can be cured, and there are really three keys to early detection. Self exams on a monthly basis, see your physician for a yearly exam, have screening mammography on a regular basis."

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month has been around for over 20 years.

National Mammography Day is October 17th.

Breast Self Exam
You can also read more about breast self exam in our Diagnosis section, including a recent controversial research report on the effectiveness of breast self exams for saving lives.

http://www.breastcancer.org/pictures/self_exam/index.jsp

MALE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS GROUP
Lowell Gere, founder and president of Bridging the Gap states the importance of support for men diagnosed with this traditionally women's disease. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 1% of breast cancers diagnosed will be among the male population. Often times, men wait to be diagnosed until it is too late and the disease has spread. Men often times feel embarrassment being diagnosed with a traditionally "feminine" disease and are hesitant to openly discuss it. Bridging the Gap provides a way for men to voice their concerns and receive much needed support.

Last October, Becky Olson, cofounder and president of Breast Friends spoke at the Pink Ribbon Society Luncheon in Indiana where she addressed the issue of men with breast cancer. It takes a lot of courage for men to come forward and openly discuss the disease.

For information on how to start a chapter in your city, or just to find a friendly and supportive voice, please email Lowell at:lagere@earthlink.net directly.

WHAT IS MALE BREAST CANCER? Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that has developed from cells of the breast. This normally occurs in men as well as women. It is estimated by the American Cancer Society that in 2005, about 1690 men will be disagnosed and about 460 will die of breast cancer.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF MALE BREAST CANCER:

http://www.breastfriends.com/inspirations/male_breast_cancer/