Breast Cancer Month should serve as a time of prayerful thanks and education

During this month, we see a lot of pink ribbons, caps and T-shirts reminding us to be aware of the dangers and risks of cancer.

But Breast Cancer Awareness Month is about more than coloring everything pink.

It's a time for remembering those who lost the fight against this disease and honoring and celebrating those who have survived.

Think about it and you will realize that most of us know someone who has been stricken with breast cancer.

Some have not had a good outcome and departed this world at a much too early age.

As a community we need to do our part to help women understand the risks of this horrible and painful cancer.

As part of that effort, the Greene County Daily World is publishing a special section today printed on pink newsprint devoted to the topic of being aware of the breast cancer risks.

The section contains the heart-warming stories of some of those in our community who have beat the odds, fought the battle and survived.

The surviving women profiled include: Gloria Klass of Worthington, Mary Shields of Linton, Dawn Price of Lyons, Marilyn Clark and Teana Miller of Jasonville as well as Debbie Johnson and Karen Overman of Bloomfield.

Their stories will encourage you and open your eyes to ways to keep a heads up on this form of cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women -- excluding skin cancers -- and accounts for more than one in four cancers diagnosed in women in the United States.

Breast cancer risk increases with age. Facts and statistics from the American Cancer Society website state between 2000 and 2004, 95 percent of new cases occurred in women 40 and older. ACS goes on to state, "Every three minutes, a woman learns she has breast cancer. In fact, more than 182,000 American women will receive that terrifying news this year and more than 40,000 will die from the disease."

It is more obvious than ever that breast health is and should be an important part of every woman's life.

While there is no way to prevent breast cancer, the American Cancer Society stresses the importance of screening for the disease and reducing known risk factors to minimize the chance of developing it.

Guidelines for early detection in women ages 20 to 39 are clinical breast exams every three years and a monthly self-examination.

For women 40 years and older, the society stresses an annual mammogram, an annual clinical breast examination and a monthly self-examination.

Mammograms for women 40 years and older are clearly an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

If you are in this category, we encourage you to have a mammogram regularly.

If your mother, your sister, your aunt, your daughter, your best friend or any important woman in your life is, encourage them to as well, and impress upon them that breast health is just another vital part of their overall health.

Breast cancer is not something to take lightly.

Breast cancer is real. It can be and is deadly if left untreated.

Education will help to reduce the number of breast cancer victims.

We encourage everyone in our community to get involved and continue the fight against breast cancer.

Nick is assistant editor for the Greene County Daily World. He can be reached by telephone at 847-4487 or 1-800-947-4487; by e-mail at schneider.nick@gmail.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages....