October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
And as a woman whose mother had pre-menopausal breast cancer back in the 1970s, and survived it, you can be sure I'm aware of this disease.
But did you know that although one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, the outlook isn't as grim as it used to be? Today the five year survival rate in women whose cancer is detected early is 98 percent.
Those are pretty good odds.
So how do you ensure that if you're the one in eight, you give yourself the best possible chance of survival?
The National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends every woman have an early detection plan.
This means regular check-ups and mammograms, and monthly self-breast exams.
And if your mother had breast cancer, you start earlier than most.
The newest recommendations are that women begin mammograms every two years starting when they are 50. It used to be annually, starting at 40. And they recommend that you keep doing it until you turn 74, rather than 69 as was formerly recommended.
If you, like I, happen to fall into a high risk group of women, you must start earlier than 50. Talk to you doctor to find out what's right for you.What isn't right for you is pulling an ostrich and burying your proverbial head in the sands of ignorance. I'm always amazed at women who tell me they haven't gone to a gynocologist or had a mammogram in years.
It's kind of like riding in a car without a seat belt. Why not take simple measures to keep yourself from dying unnecessarily?
There's a lot of good information out there. Do a little research, talk to your doc, and protect the ta tas!
Remember, October is breast cancer awareness month. It's only the middle of September! So you've got a jump on the whole deal. You're welcome!
(Big Foot is pictured wearing a bra in the parking lot of the Caldwell Food Center Emporium, as part of a Relay for Life breast cancer awareness fundraiser.)
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