Think Pinker

American women fight many different cancers, but of all the cancers, breast cancer is by far the most common (next to lung cancer). According to Summit Daily News, the American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 40,930 breast cancer deaths in 2008 and there will be 182,460 new cases of breast cancer.

Unfortunately how to prevent the development of breast cancer is still a mystery. But there’s some good news on the home front – and that’s in the early detection that has seen significant improvements. These improvements for the most part include mammograms which are recognized as the #1 method that breast cancer is diagnosed.

Recently there’s been some discussion as to whether self breast examinations are of any value. Some professionals say they do little in the finding of breast cancer instead increasing the amount of worry and biopsies that would otherwise not be done. On the other hand are the professionals that say we should continue to do self examinations. So what should you do? Do what you are comfortable with when it comes to self examination, but have your regular mammograms after the age of 40, and regular breast examinations by a trained professional.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and what better time to increase your awareness and for others to increase their awareness than in October. Do your part to share the knowledge and spread it. Almost everyone of us knows someone that has had breast cancer. Some of us have lost loved ones to this dreadful disease.

It’s hoped that one day we’ll walk beyond diagnosing breast cancer to actually preventing it. It’s also hoped that one day even if there are a small number of individuals who are diagnosed with breast cancer, the treatments will be simple and they’ll be 100% effective.

Do your part this month – wear a little pink, make a donation, whatever you can do to increase the awareness of the most common form of cancer in women – breast cancer.