October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month![/caption] October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time for extra focus on fighting this disease, honoring and supporting those who have suffered from it, and taking action against it through self-examinations and mammograms. According to BreastCancer.org, about 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime and about 2,470 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2017. Early detection through regular screening tests can dramatically increase survival rates when cancer is found early. For more information about early detection, The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. offers a free download of their resource guide, 3 Steps to Early Detection. The American Breast Cancer Foundation offers an assistance program to help with early detection and has provided more than 46,300 grants for breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services through its Breast Cancer Assistance Program. As a result of ABCFs funding, over 1,300 grant recipients have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and were able to take the next step toward breast health. There are many inspirational stories of survival that show us the importance of early detection and taking the time to pay close attention to our health. According to The American Breast Cancer Foundation, there are 2.8 million breast cancer survivors living in the United States today and more research findings and breakthroughs are happening every day as a result of continued awareness. National Breast Care Foundation Founder, Janelle Hail is one of those inspirational stories. Her diagnosis in 1980 led her to create a foundation that now educates individuals and their loved ones about the disease, promotes early detection, and offers a bounty of resources to us all in the fight against breast cancer. The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation also provides a wide array of resources, inspirational stories and a bold goal to reduce the current number of breast cancer deaths by 50% in the U.S. by 2026. An admirable goal, and one we can all support. (Sooner is fine, too!) From our hearts to yours, we wish you and your families the best of health. -The Weidner Team
