Somewhere in the world, every 69 seconds a woman dies of breast cancer.
The first of October marked the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- a perfect time to pause in our busy lives and remember all the people we know who are affected by this most common cancer and those who have lost wives, mothers, daughters and friends to this insidious disease.
We miss these women who enriched our lives, and then they were gone.
We miss their laughter.
There are several myths about what causes terrifying disease.
So much we don't know, but we DO know that this second most common cause of death from cancer is not a result of getting mammograms, using deodorant, drinking from plastic water bottles or wearing underwire bras.
One extremely harmful misconception is -- no family history means no breast cancer.
This insidious disease definitely can run in families, but about 80 percent of all new cases are random, with no family history at all.
We are not victims, to sit in wait of the monster.
There are steps we can take to protect ourselves.
Mammograms for early detection are a major weapon in the battle against breast cancer, along with frequent exercise, good sleep, little alcohol and stopping smoking.
Consumption of soy, vegetables, and fruits has also been found to reduce risk, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Postmenopausal women who regularly eat a lot of soy, vegetables and fruits are at 30 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who eat less of them.
And, the longer the history of consumption of these healthy foods, the less chance women have of ever developing the disease.
During this month and any time, there are many ways to join the fight against this disease, and visiting the following site is a good way to get started -- http://www.
nationalbreastcancer.
org/How-To-Help/volunteer.
aspx.
There are also many good books to read and products to buy to show our support.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is all about remembering family and friends, realizing the necessity of early detection, raising funds for research and treatment, and supporting those affected by the disease -- because we're all in this together.
The first of October marked the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- a perfect time to pause in our busy lives and remember all the people we know who are affected by this most common cancer and those who have lost wives, mothers, daughters and friends to this insidious disease.
We miss these women who enriched our lives, and then they were gone.
We miss their laughter.
There are several myths about what causes terrifying disease.
So much we don't know, but we DO know that this second most common cause of death from cancer is not a result of getting mammograms, using deodorant, drinking from plastic water bottles or wearing underwire bras.
One extremely harmful misconception is -- no family history means no breast cancer.
This insidious disease definitely can run in families, but about 80 percent of all new cases are random, with no family history at all.
We are not victims, to sit in wait of the monster.
There are steps we can take to protect ourselves.
Mammograms for early detection are a major weapon in the battle against breast cancer, along with frequent exercise, good sleep, little alcohol and stopping smoking.
Consumption of soy, vegetables, and fruits has also been found to reduce risk, according to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Postmenopausal women who regularly eat a lot of soy, vegetables and fruits are at 30 percent lower risk of developing breast cancer than those who eat less of them.
And, the longer the history of consumption of these healthy foods, the less chance women have of ever developing the disease.
During this month and any time, there are many ways to join the fight against this disease, and visiting the following site is a good way to get started -- http://www.
nationalbreastcancer.
org/How-To-Help/volunteer.
aspx.
There are also many good books to read and products to buy to show our support.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is all about remembering family and friends, realizing the necessity of early detection, raising funds for research and treatment, and supporting those affected by the disease -- because we're all in this together.