Breast Cancer Awareness Month

More than 20 years ago, the month of October was dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness and the importance of early detection. As we all know, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States and according to the American Cancer Society, it's estimated that about 178,480 women in the US will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2007. With so many people affected by this disease, it's important to raise awareness and become as educated as possible. There are so many great resources out there and here are just a few websites to help you locate any information you might need.

• National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: More than just one month a year, the NBCAM has a website with breaking news on breast cancer, lists of patient services, and basic as well as detailed information on the disease.

• American Cancer Society: The ACS is dedicated to educating women on how to reduce their risk of developing the disease and finding the best options for treating breast cancer. They believe in early detection and recommend that all women over 40 receive an annual mammogram. The ACS website is loaded with information and they have 24 hour telephone service to offer the comfort of live support and to answer questions about cancer, link callers with resources in their communities, and provide information on local events (1-800-ACS-2345).