Get in the pink for breast cancer awareness month
Tracey Tate
Issue date: 10/15/09 Last update: 10/16/09 at 4:53 PM PST
Section: Features
If you see a little more pink than usual this month, don't be alarmed. The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.
From rough-and-tumble professional football players sporting pink gloves on the gridiron to pink ribbons emblazoned on the backs of cars, the message to "think pink" is everywhere.
NBCAM is dedicated to promoting awareness of breast cancer and empowering women with the tools for early detection. Regular self-breast exams, annual mammograms and knowing the facts about breast cancer are the first steps women can take to be in control of their breast health.
According to NBCAM the top five risk factors for women are:
• Sex -- The highest risk factor for breast cancer is being female; the disease is about 100 times more common among women.
• Age -- The risk of breast cancer increases as a woman grows older. The risk is especially high for women age 60 and older. Breast cancer is uncommon in women younger than age 35, although it does occur. There is some evidence to suggest young African American women are at greater risk for breast cancer than young Caucasian women.
• Personal History -- Women who have had breast cancer and women with a history of breast disease (not cancer, but a condition that may predispose them to cancer) may develop it again.
• Family History -- The risk of developing breast cancer increases for a woman whose mother, sister, daughter, or two or more close relatives have had the disease. It is important to know how old they were at the time they were diagnosed.
• The Breast Cancer Genes -- Some individuals, both women and men, may be born with an "alteration" (or change) in one of two genes that are important for regulating breast cell growth.
Everyone can have a part contributing to finding a cure by participating in various community events such as walk-a-thons to buying products that give a portion of the proceeds to an organization that supports breast cancer research.
Research how much of what you spend actually goes toward breast cancer organizations at www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org.
Sources for additional information about breast cancer, risks and advocacy include the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the National Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer.
From rough-and-tumble professional football players sporting pink gloves on the gridiron to pink ribbons emblazoned on the backs of cars, the message to "think pink" is everywhere.
NBCAM is dedicated to promoting awareness of breast cancer and empowering women with the tools for early detection. Regular self-breast exams, annual mammograms and knowing the facts about breast cancer are the first steps women can take to be in control of their breast health.
According to NBCAM the top five risk factors for women are:
• Sex -- The highest risk factor for breast cancer is being female; the disease is about 100 times more common among women.
• Age -- The risk of breast cancer increases as a woman grows older. The risk is especially high for women age 60 and older. Breast cancer is uncommon in women younger than age 35, although it does occur. There is some evidence to suggest young African American women are at greater risk for breast cancer than young Caucasian women.
• Personal History -- Women who have had breast cancer and women with a history of breast disease (not cancer, but a condition that may predispose them to cancer) may develop it again.
• Family History -- The risk of developing breast cancer increases for a woman whose mother, sister, daughter, or two or more close relatives have had the disease. It is important to know how old they were at the time they were diagnosed.
• The Breast Cancer Genes -- Some individuals, both women and men, may be born with an "alteration" (or change) in one of two genes that are important for regulating breast cell growth.
Everyone can have a part contributing to finding a cure by participating in various community events such as walk-a-thons to buying products that give a portion of the proceeds to an organization that supports breast cancer research.
Research how much of what you spend actually goes toward breast cancer organizations at www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org.
Sources for additional information about breast cancer, risks and advocacy include the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Coalition and the National Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer.
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