Breast cancer affects everyone so be aware

By Staff
Staff Editorial
Franklin County Times
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we have included a Breast Cancer Awareness page in today's paper. Breast Cancer affects thousands of people every year.
According to reports, 40,460 women were diagnosed with the disease last year, and 2,030 men had a breast cancer diagnosis.
The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 2.4 million women with a history of breast cancer were alive in January 2004. Most of these women were cancer-free, while others had evidence of cancer and may have undergoing cancer.
Breast cancer is something we should be aware of. Women over 40 should get a mammogram every year regardless of medical coverage. Women under the age of 40 should perform monthly self-exams to check to abnormalities.
Even the smallest of lump should should be checked out, even if you think it's nothing.
Breast cancer does not discriminate based on age, sex, or race. Anyone can be affected at any age. That's why it's so important to see a doctor regularly; get routine mammograms and perform your month self-exams.
These steps may not seem very important, but they could save you life.
For more information on breast cancer, visit www.cancer.org