but aren't we aware already? do your self-exams, mammograms after 40, race for the cure, wear pink for support, etc.
breast cancer is personal for far too many, but there is still much work to do:
200,000 women in the US will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime and we still don't know why.
genetics play a part. but some people with the gene remain healthy while others get sick.
lifestyle plays a part. we're instructed to stay active, eat well, breastfeed, not smoke, drink in moderation, and limit exposure to estrogen, but a healthy lifestyle is hardly a get-out-of-jail-free-card when it comes to cancer.
my sister [who finishes radiation treatment this month!] is fit and the only person in the family to be diagnosed. an acquaintance of mine, also in her 30s, had a mastectomy last week, and she is a triathlete. my uncle beat breast cancer last year and he's a man. obviously.
we all want to reduce our risk, but the reality is that breast cancer doesn't always play according to the odds, and it can strike people indiscriminately.
how can we prevent something we don't yet understand?
that is where the Army of Women comes into play--an exciting initiative that allows us the opportunity to do something in the fight against breast cancer.
The Love/Avon Army of Women (AOW) is a unique program of the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit breast cancer research organization. The program is funded through a grant from the Avon Foundation for Women. The AOW provides an opportunity for men and women to take part in breast cancer research studies aimed at determining the causes of breast cancer – and how to prevent it. The AOW is a groundbreaking initiative that connects breast cancer researchers via the internet with women who are willing to participate in a wide variety of research studies. The goal of the Army of Women is to recruit ONE MILLION MEN AND WOMEN of all ages and ethnicities, including breast cancer survivors and those who have never had breast cancer.the Army of Women research studies are prevention based--not clinical trials. anyone can become a volunteer, all studies are voluntary and completely free, and you can pick which studies interest you. here's a list of current open studies.
the more people sign up, the greater the research pool, and the closer we are to unlocking the secret that kicks breast cancer to the curb.
wearing pink is great, but this october, would you join me in doing something more to fight breast cancer? join the Army of Women. let's make this fight personal.
sign up and then spread the word! share about the Army of Women with your friends using this email form, post about it on facebook, or tweet using the hashtag #WritePink.
also, check out the bigger picture blogs all month long for more about breast cancer education, prevention, support, and survival, as well as a chance to win some prizes.
oh yeah, and this:
