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Health & Fitness

We Are Fighting to Keep A Breast of Cancer- Margot Ferron

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  It is an international campaign for breast cancer charities to increase awareness about breast cancer and raise money for prevention, treatment, cures and education.

Initially, the American Cancer Society partnered with Imperial Chemical Industries (part of Astra Zeneca now) in 1985 to promote mammograms as a way to fight against cancer with early detection.  Later in 1993, Evelyn Lauder, Vice President of Estee Lauder founded the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Then the pink ribbon became a symbol of breast cancer, but it was the Susan G. Komen Foundation that handed it out first at a race in New York City in1991.

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In a woman’s lifetime, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though it is rare, breast cancer does strike men, too.

Currently, there are mysterious spikes in male breast cancers among our military.  This year, the American Cancer Society estimates that breast cancer will be diagnosed in about 2,190 men in the US and it will kill about 410 men.

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For many years I worked as a surgical assistant.  In 1982, one of my patients was a male, childhood friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer.  His father died three years earlier with pancreatic cancer.  Later my friend lost his battle to breast cancer.   My heart has always ached because I felt like I never did enough to help.

You are never alone.   There are organizations that want to help you as well as family, friends and concerned caregivers.  Breast cancer affects each and every one of us in some way.   What do you need from us--your family, friends and loved ones?  Trust me, we feel helpless when we don’t know what to do.  Your fight is our fight.

No one wants to hear you have cancer, but we do want to hear your story.

How did you or how are you surviving and dealing with breast cancer?  Your experience will provide hope and inspiration for others who may think they are alone.

Remember, if you don't ask for help during your journey, we don’t know how to help you.   Most people want to help and they love to feel needed.

Your story is priceless to us.  If you want to Fight Back against cancer you can join Relay for Life in your city, form a team or join a team.  Learn more about committee positions and help us set goals for the new year.

For more information about Relay For Life, please contact Margot Ferron at 949/ 309-1235, gomargotgo@aol.com.

It would be a better world with fewer cancer and more birthdays!

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