As you probably know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In fact, there's a small pink ribbon on top of the Beaver Valley Macaroni Kid page.
Here are some facts from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website:
- Breast cancer is a random and deadly disease.
- The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are being female and getting older.
- With respect to age, race, religion and socioeconomic status, breast cancer knows no boundaries
- Breast cancer typically strikes women during their most productive years both professionally and personally.
- Globally, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide.
- In the United States, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.
- The five-year survival rate for breast cancer, when caught early before it spreads beyond the breast, is now 98 percent (compared to 74 percent in 1982).
Here's some information from the American Cancer Society on guidelines on early detection and how to perform self breast exams at home. This is good stuff and, not to sound like a broken record, could save your life. I got my first mammogram this year, and while I can't say I enjoyed the test, I can say that I feel better since I went, because several women in my family have been diagnosed with breast cancer. If you're the age that's recommended for a mammogram, and your doctor feels that you should go, please do. Early detection is key!
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There's so much going on in Beaver County in October! I think that the list of events can be overwhelming to scroll through, so you may want to look at all of the activities using the calendar, especially for Saturday events. Also keep in mind that Monday, October 8 is Columbus Day, and several of the farms and pumpkins patches in our area are open that day since there's no school.
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Giveaway winners:
Triple B Farm pass: Shannon S.
$20 off a subscription package to Lincoln Park performances: Teresa
