October Reminds Us to Be Aware

It's difficult to find a person who hasn't been affected, either directly or indirectly, by breast cancer. Most of us know someone (a friend, a family member, a coworker, a friend-of-a-friend) who has been dealt this blow. Incredibly, just while writing this post, I learned of a woman who has been recently diagnosed with the disease. This should come as no surprise, since the American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that 192,370 new cases would be diagnosed in 2009 alone. The ACS also reminds us that breast cancer is the most common type among women with the exception of skin cancers.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so go ahead and wear your pink ribbons, run in a Race for the Cure, and purchase BCA products to fund research. However, this month isn't just about awareness alone, it is about action. Learn your family medical history, understand your risk factors, commit to those monthly self-exams, and schedule that mammogram!

We all know that knowledge is power, but in this case, it could literally be the difference between life and death. The following sites are great places to begin informing yourself:
http://www.komen.org/
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_National_Breast_Cancer_Awareness_Month.asp