Breast Cancer Awareness Month

For those of you who don't know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The Facts: Breast Cancer and Women
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.1 million people will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, worldwide, and more than 4.4 million women have been diagnosed within the past five years, worldwide. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2005, approximately 211,240 women in the United States were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (Stages I-IV). The chance of developing invasive breast cancer during a woman's lifetime is approximately 1 in 7 (13.4%). Another 58,490 women will be diagnosed with in situ breast cancer, a very early form of the disease.

The Facts: Breast Cancer and Young Women
Despite the prevailing opinion that young women don't get breast cancer, the reality is that they can and they do. In fact, one in every 258 women between the ages of 30 and 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer within the next 10 years. Approximately 11,000 women under the age of 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and close to 1,100 will die. Young women with breast cancer struggle with many issues that their post-menopausal counterparts don’t face, including: the possibility of early menopause, pregnancy after diagnosis, generally more advanced cancers at diagnosis, and higher mortality rates. There are nearly 250,000 women in the United States under the age of 40 currently living with breast cancer.

I wanted to make this entry full of information for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so here are a few things for you to know.

National Mammography Day: October 21st

Mammograms definitely save lives. Contrary to popular belief, you don't have to just be over 40 to have a mammogram. If breast cancer runs in your family, if you have had lumps in your breasts before, or if simply, you're nervous and want a baseline image of your breasts, have a mammogram. Even if insurance won't pay for it, spend the money. I believe that the peace of mind is worth it. I found the lump in my breast, but without the mammogram, things would not have been taken seriously.

This year, as in many years past, October 21st, marks the day when there are free or discounted screening mammograms. To learn which facilities in your area are participating, call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345; The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation at 1-800-462-9273; the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO) at 1-800-719-9154; the Y-Me National Breast Cancer Organization at 1-800-221-2141; or the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-4-CANCER.

Wear your Pink: Whole Month of October

There are numerous stores that sell all things pink for breast cancer. Last year, pink products earned $30 million for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation -- and raised awareness for the cause. Wear your pink proudly this month :) It makes women like me smile!

Breast Cancer Awareness Shop

Healing Ribbons

The Breast Cancer Site

Breast Self-Exams: Start now and don't stop!

Through this month, do your breast self-exams if you're a woman. Ask your physician if you don't know how or are unsure of what to look for. Then do them regularly every month. It's quick and it's easy. If I had not been in touch with my body and doing regular self-exams my lump would have gone unnoticed for who knows how long. As it is my doctors think my cancer was growing at least 4-5 years. Imagine if I had not found the lump? Stage II cancer would have easily become more and my chance at survival certainly less. So, I urge you to take control of your body and start doing this simple exam on yourself, every month. If you're a man, encourage your mothers, sisters, grandmothers, friends to do their self-exams, have a mammogram, and take care of themselves...

Take a Walk, Run, or Stroll!

All this month, all over the country, there are Breast Cancer Awareness Walks. Even Nome is having one on Saturday. Check for an event like this in your community and gather your friends together to take a moment for this cause. There is power in numbers and the awareness and money raised from these events is staggering. More importantly, it is a huge sign of support for women living with this illness.

One of my biggest struggles this past few months has been how to accept breast cancer as part of my world, part of my identity. There is this huge part of me that just doesn't want to join the club, even though I already have. I do not want to be defined by breast cancer, yet there seems to be no alternative at this moment of my life. I do not believe that will be the case forever! Someday, it will not be at the center of my world, but the truth is that right now, it is.

Pre-diagnosis I didn't know much more about breast cancer than the fact that to support the cause, I could wear pink. It was on the list of all the many other cancers and world issues that could be represented by a ribbon. I never really knew what that ribbon meant to those wearing it and to those who see it. I can only speak for myself, but I have to admit that as a woman living with breast cancer, that pink ribbon speaks volumes to me. Every time I see a wristband, or a car magnet, or a t-shirt, or anything donning that pink ribbon, I am reminded of hope and of love. I am connected to others who understand and who value the importance of spreading awareness and raising money for this issue. I am in the face, just for a moment, of someone else who has been touched by this illness. I really do feel something special inside just knowing that I am not alone. I know that may seem crazy that I would ever think that I am really alone in this issue, but sometimes, it truly feels like I am. Like there is nobody in this world that really understands what is happening to my life. But, that pink ribbon really does help me keep my feet on the ground and realize that people do know and people do understand. For every person donning a pink ribbon, the story is a little different, but the emotions that are experienced through this illness are the same.

I have obviously learned a lot, first-hand about breast cancer, but I've also done a lot of research to learn even more. Its been interesting to navigate all of the resources out there and to try and decipher what information I really want to listen to. Here are a couple of resources that I have found particularly helpful.

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Young Survival Coalition

breastcancer.org


One last thing. . . If you're wanting to do a little something for Breast Cancer Awareness Month here is an idea that will benefit breast cancer research as well as yourself. Evelyn H. Lauder, founder of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has put together what looks to be like a fabulous cookbook called "In Great Taste". You can find it at any number of online sites. I ordered mine through Amazon.com for less than $20. All royalties will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Well, this has been a marathon entry. I hope you were able to get all the way through it. Thanks for being part of my team and supporting me so much. I don't often hear comments from anyone other than the usual 3 or 4 people (which I love by the way), but I would really enjoy hearing from more of you. Feel free to use the comments page to say hello, share a story, express your thoughts, or whatever else you may think of.

With Love, Sasha