Join the Pink Sisterhood!

I've been tagged by the lovely Mariuca's Perfume Gallery with a post for a good cause: Join the Pink Sisterhood to raise awareness of breast cancer so we can put an end to this disease once and for all. Over this past weekend, Rex, London, Maddie and I attended the Far Hills Race Meeeting to benefit Somerset Medical Center's Steeplechase Cancer Center, and I'd like to continue to help in the fight against cancer in the month of October. Please join me in helping to convey the importance of regular examination and early detection of breast cancer in order to catch this potentially deadly disease when it first erupts, maximizing the chance of survival and recovery.

Something every woman should know is that you're never too old or too young to develop breast cancer. My mom learned from her annual mammogram that she had breast cancer back in 2004. While she unfortunately required a mastectomy and radiation treatment, she is now cancer-free and turns 83 this year. Regular (monthly) breast self-examination should begin by the age of twenty, and all women over 40 (or in a higher risk category) should have an annual mammogram.

In doing my bit to help spread awareness on the issue of breast cancer to women, here are several facts on breast cancer that everyone should know:

• The first sign of breast cancer usually shows up on a woman's mammogram before it can be felt or any other symptoms are present.
• Risks for breast cancer include family history (mother and sister(s)), atypical hyperplasia, delaying pregnancy until after age 30 or never becoming pregnant, early menstruation (before age 12), late menopause (after age 55), current use or use in the last ten years of oral contraceptives, and daily consumption of alcohol.
• Early detection of breast cancer, through monthly breast self-exam and particularly yearly mammography after age 40, offers the best chance for survival.
• Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.

• Over eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous, but benign such as fibrocystic breast disease.

Now for the tag. Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo in your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who shared it with you.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Add your link to the list of participants below.
5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

PINK Sisterhood
1- Fara 2- Massy 3- N.O.Y 4- Mariuca 5- A Great Pleasure 6- LadyJava 7- Kim 8- Pink Thoughts 9- Turn-u-Off 10- Roxiticus Desperate Housewives 11- STAY AT HOME MOM 12- SpicyBug 13- YOU Next

I'm hereby nominating (and tagging): Cindi (Moomette) , SpicyBug, Jackie (Shinade), Lucky Lady, Stay at Home Mom Sue, and you and YOU! Please leave a comment here to tag yourself, ladies, and I'll add your site to my list.