October is
Breast Cancer Awareness month!! About My Mother
Since I wrote the above, she has gotten sick. She has a staph infection right now. It's common for cancer patients with ports. It's somewhat serious. Please keep her in your thoughts!
Click to help for free:
How does awareness help?
It reminds women to get their yearly mammograms. Earlier detection increases chances of survival.
It reminds women that they should do monthly self-examinations. Again, earlier detection saves lives.
Awareness is contagious. If you are spreading awareness, the people you are spreading awareness to will spread awareness also!
Awareness raises funds. People becoming aware of such a huge issue may donate money towards research for a cure!!
So, what can I do to increase awareness and/or help find a cure/fund mammograms?
Many, many things...to name a few:
Wear a ribbon!! Go to Wal-Mart and spend a couple bucks on pink ribbon and safety pins.
Give out ribbons! Make ribbons and give them out to your family, friends and colleagues!
Click the buttons above [daily] to raise funds. It only takes a second and it's free!
Donate money to Breast Cancer research!! You may do so on many breast cancer sites like The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Breast Cancer Campaign, Breast Cancer dot org, CBCRP, BCRF, action breast cancer and many others!
Many sites, including some that I linked here, also sell clothing, accessories, and gift items promoting awareness. This is a great way to donate to research and also have items that will promote awareness in your daily life! The gift items you can find are really nice too. Next time you're giving a gift, donate to research at the same time!
Some additional shops online:
The BC Mall
The Pink Ribbon Shop
Virgin
Find Gift
Beaux Tie Designs
Breast Cancer Care [also a support site]
Center Coin
Help participate in a study [UK women only]
Volunteer to have your PC aid in cancer research.
Save lids to save lives!
Buy pink and white M&M's!
Buy breast cancer awareness stamps!
Go bowling!
Ask your employer about Denim Day.
Many local shops will also have items you can purchase to support research. Ask at Target, Wal-Mart, Rite Aid and many more! If you're not in the states or you want to order online, Target offers awareness items online. Simply visit Target Pink.
Wear a virtual ribbon on your webpage!! I have collected and/or created many banners, pictures and journal icons...and even an AOL instant messenger icon! You are welcome to use any or all of them!! They will also work to use as avatars on forums and other messengers!
Why are regular breast exams important?
Early detection saves lives! Make sure you go for yearly mammograms and do self-exams every month.
Tell me about the self-exams. I need more information.
You can make self exams a habit by requesting a free breast self exam shower card. This waterproof card illustrates and explains the self exam, and is designed to hang in your shower or on the bathroom door handle. Hang it somewhere where you will see it as a constant reminder.
If you don't want to wait for a card, download a pdf card and print it.
You can also learn how to do the self exams on this website.
Many websites offer to send you a monthly email reminder to do your self exam. You can request the service here or even get a reminder program here.
Other Links
Awareness article on BBC
Male breast cancer
( Breast Cancer Awarness banners, images and icons!! )
I will try to post even more images during this month!!
( Additional Sources of Information )
You are welcome to post this in any community that may be relevant that I missed!! I would appreciate it a lot!! If you can post it in your own communities, whether they are relevant or not, it would be so cool of you to do that. If you're part of any community at all that wouldn't mind this post, share it there as well! You just tell them that xink wrote it at the beginning of the post! I can email the full code for this entry to anyone who would like to post it around. One easy way to do it is to just link them to this entry!
If you think I should add any links, images or information to this post that I don't already have here, email me: bcawareness at sarse dot net.
Thanks for reading this post!! And of course, the one thing she did not mention was prayer. Prayer is a HUGE way to help in this cause. So, please be praying! :)