Many of you are aware that this month is Breast Cancer Awareness month; I'm sure you've seen the pink ribbons around town. But few, I think, are aware at the pervasiveness of breast cancer. Over 185,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed every year, and over 40,000 women will die from it this year (and 400 men as well). One in eight women will get breast cancer in their lifetime.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women between the ages of 15 and 54, and the second cause of cancer death in women 55 to 74.
Like all things, research is the key. Major breakthroughs in early detection and treatment mean that 1.7 million surivors of breast cancer are with us that likely would have perished from this horrible disease a generation ago. But there is much research left to do.
What can you do? Many of you are country music fans. Steve alerted me to the fact that country music star Garth Brooks has released a 3-CD Ultimate Hits set to benefit the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. This is a great way to add some fun music to your collection, and to help out an important cause. An unbelievable $10 from the sale of each CD set ($15.00 plus shipping) goes to the Race for the Cure, which if you know anything about charities, you realize is almost unheard of in this day and age.
To order this CD on-line, go to: the Susan G. Komen web site. You can also pick it up at many local merchants, but if you buy it on-line you get a special bonus.
Early detection for breast cancer is the key, and every life saved is a beloved wife, mother, and daughter to someone, maybe even you. Urge the women in your life to do a a breast self-examination and give generously to charities that make a difference.
Buy a CD, save a woman's life. Sounds like a pretty sweet deal to me.
-- Dr. Todd
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