This year, 211,240 women and 1,690 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, according to an October article in Nursing 2005, October Edition titled, “Spread the Word about Breast Cancer.”

 The National Breast Cancer awareness month is held annually throughout of October.

This year marks more than 20 years that National Breast Cancer Awareness month has educated women about early breast cancer detection, diagnoses and treatment, according to www.nbcam.org.

 This year, among other things, the founders of the National Breast Cancer Awareness month are focusing on, most notably, the importance of early detection.
 Women over 40 are encouraged to get an annual mammogram screening.

Natalie Godby, a radiographic tech mammography at Madison Memorial Hospital, said the exception to receiving mammograms before the age of 40 is if you have a family history, usually a first generation relative with breast cancer.

For example, if a student’s mother has had breast cancer, the student should get screened 10 years before their mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. If the mother was diagnosed with having breast cancer at the age of 45, then students should get a screening at the age of 35. 

Godby said mammograms are a women’s best chance for detecting breast cancer. Mammography, combined with the new treatment options, can significantly improve women’s chances for survival. 

“Early detection is your best protection,” said Dave Hansen, a radiologist at Madison Memorial Hospital.

Also, the more you exercise the more you can decrease your risk for breast cancer.

A monthly breast examination and a yearly check-up from a doctor are also aides in preventing breast cancer and detecting it quickly. These exams may need to be taken more often, depending on the individual level of risk.

More evidence suggests that overweight women have more estrogen and it can increase their risk for breast cancer, according to the Nursing 2005 October Edition. This article encourages women to become more active.

 The National Breast Cancer Awareness Web site is for all who are interested in breast cancer, have friends or family who are or have been breast cancer patients, for those who wish to become more informed about the disease, or for those who are interested in informing their communities about the importance of breast cancer awareness.

The Web site also stands as a guide to help those who are involved in putting together an awareness program of their own.

 One day during the third week in October each year is National Mammography Day, which was first proclaimed by Bill Clinton in 1993.

On this day, and throughout the month, the National Breast Cancer Awareness program encourages women to make a mammography appointment. 

This year, National Mammography Day will be celebrated on October 21.

Significant advances in mammography technology are helping to aid physicians to diagnose the disease earlier.

The sooner breast cancer is detected, the less likely a woman will need highly invasive and uncomfortable treatment, and more likely she will survive her fight with the disease, according to 2005 article posted on www.nbcam.org/pdf/2005matterrelease.pdf.