Breast Cancer Awareness Month

[KillerMuffin]

That would be in October. So slap a pink ribbon on your beer stein out at Oktoberfest, will ya?

Some of you may have noticed that I'm wearing one here. I can't help it, I love breasts. Anyone who loves breasts ought to wear a pink ribbon to show boobidarity. Why? Because breast cancer takes away thousands of beautiful breasts every year and the beautiful women attached to them. 39,600 a year in America alone. One pair of boobs every 13 minutes. That's a tragedy for women-lovers.

Some info from http://www.nabco.org/index.php/index.php/137

Excluding cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women in the United States. Both its cause and the means for its cure remain undiscovered. Over two million breast cancer survivors are alive in the U.S. today.

In 2002, 203,500 new cases of female invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed, and 39,600 women will die from the disease. Nearly 54,300 cases of female in situ (preinvasive) breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2002. Of these, approximately 88% will be ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for all women (after lung cancer), and the leading overall cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 40 and 59.

Men can develop breast cancer too, although its incidence is low. In 2002, 1,500 male cases are projected to be diagnosed, and 400 men will die from the disease.

Based on the current life expectancy for women in the United States, one out of nine women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime -- a risk that was one out of 14 in 1960. This year, a breast cancer will be newly diagnosed every three minutes, and a woman will die from breast cancer every 13 minutes.

Every woman is at risk for breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer increases as a woman ages, if she has a personal or family history of breast cancer, has never had children or had her first child after age 30 and if she has had prior treatment with radiation therapy for Hodgkin's disease. However, over 70 percent of cases occur in women who have no identifiable risk factors.

Breast cancer cannot yet be prevented. However, there is now a risk reduction option available for women at very high risk, such as the estimated five to ten percent of American women with multiple close blood relatives who have had the disease. In 1998, the drug tamoxifen was shown to reduce breast cancer cases by 50 percent over four years in a large research study of high-risk women. Tamoxifen is FDA-approved for use in this high-risk group, however, the drug's benefits, risks and side effects vary for each woman, and must be thoroughly discussed with an expert physician.

Breast cancer can be detected at an early, treatable stage in women age 40 and older. More widespread use of regular screening mammography has been a major contributor to recent improvements in the breast cancer survival rate. A 2000 survey showed that on average, 63 percent of U.S. women age 40 and older had received a recent mammogram. A screening mammogram is a simple, low-dose x-ray procedure that can reveal breast cancer at its earliest stage, up to two years before it is large enough to be felt. In NABCO's view, annual screening mammography should begin at age 40 and continue as long as a woman is healthy and able to undergo the test.

Annual breast examinations by a medical professional are a required complement to annual screening mammography. Although mammography is now the most frequent means of discovering breast cancer, lumps and breast irregularities are often found by women themselves, yet most women have not been instructed in breast self-examination (BSE), and do not perform it regularly. Although BSE has not been demonstrated to affect breast cancer survival, a recommended component of every woman's breast health program is to become familiar with her breasts and what "normal" feels like to her.

In the United States, over 80 percent of biopsied breast abnormalities are proven benign, but any breast lump must be evaluated by a physician. New, less invasive biopsy procedures (such as stereotactic core needle biopsy) permit removal and evaluation of breast tissue in a surgeon's or radiologist's office, and require no special preparation or recovery period.

If detected early, breast cancer can be treated effectively with surgery that preserves the breast, followed by radiation therapy. This local therapy is often accompanied by systemic chemotherapy and/or hormonal therapy. Currently, 63 percent of breast cancers are discovered at an early, "localized" stage, and five-year survival after treatment for early-stage breast cancer is 96 percent.

Breast cancer incidence increases with age, rising sharply after age 40. About 77 percent of invasive breast cancers occur in women over age 50. Average age at diagnosis is 64.

What would I like you to do about it? Simple. Learn about breast cancer and encourage women to do it as well. Particularly how to prevent losing a breast or death from this. Masectomies do not have to happen as often as the do.

And wear a pink ribbon. You can find plenty by going here and typing in breast cancer ribbon or something interesting: http://www.google.com/imghp?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=

Show the world how much you love a nice rack.

 

[peachykeen]

yes, what she said.

 

[CoolidgEffect]

Gosh, I was told something different.

"The Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns (OGLBTC) is proud to announce its biggest month of the year! October is GLBT Heritage Month--a national movement to recognize, support, and honor our GLBT history, contributions, and lives. This year's theme is PRIDE AND PREJUDICE."

 

[DéjàNu]

this one should be Sticky



very important

 

[curious2c]

I support it and have had family members with cancers. need to find the causes and the cures.

 

[Guest]

 

[sexy-girl]

we have the ribbons in are store at work


i have one also

 

[bluemuse]

Important bump.

My mother is a breast cancer survivor......and I am mammo'd yearly.

 

[ksmybuttons]

I gave the lady a pink ribbon in support.

 

[intrigued]

 

[Raina]

My grandmother had a mastectomy several years ago, and her sister also had breast cancer. I'm all about awareness.

Thanks for starting this thread KM.

 

[Ms_Lilith]

Both of my grandmothers are breast cancer survivors, and my mother has a benign tumor in her left breast. It's been there for as long as she can remember. I have what are called fibrocystic breasts, and am at high risk for breast cancer. I wear my ribbon proudly.

 

[capricious_chic]

Just a bump for an important issue.

 

[Guest]

 

[Guest]

Breast Cancer sucks.

 

[curious2c]

BUMP

To keep up the awareness don't ya know.

 

[RastaPope]

I don't see how wearing a damned ribbon does a thing. Honestly. Donatnig money, sure, perhaps. But a ribbon, well, that got old in the 90's.

 

[curious2c]

It serves as a reminder to people.
The grocery store where we shop has a deal to scan in a one dollar donation as you check out. Other places have similar things. The ribbon helps to keep the attention out there.

What the hell, its only a piece of ribbon and a small pin. It only takes a second to put on, and then it is out there.

 

[weed]

good one

Fortunately masectomies are becoming less frequent than they used to be. Lump removal and lymph tissue sampling have shown to be good options for many women.

Another good thing for those with breast cancer is that more insurance companies are providing more hospital time for masectomy patients. For a while it was considered an outpatient procedure for reimbursement.

Breasts love rose oil

 

[Purple Haze]

Breast cancer eventually took Mother from us ten years ago.

 

[phrodeau]

Do you all realize that the whole ribbon-for-remembrance thing started with Tony Orlando and Dawn?

 

[Purple Haze]

LMAO!

You're kidding, right?

Say you're kidding...

 

[weed]

Morning bumps are good....specially when it's chilly and they stick right out.

 

[Beebeeblue]

Bumpity bump....

 

[Rubyfruit]

For those women putting off getting a mamogram because they think it's going to hurt, let me just say that it's nothing. Nothing.

I was so stressed about it beforehand, that I kept flinching in anticipation of pain during the exam.

There was no pain and very little discomfort. Of course, I gave birth to twins without medication, so my perspective on pain may be different than yours.

In any case, your life is worth a little momentary discomfort, right?

Right.