FEATURED COLUMN
Speak Out
By Val

When October rolls around, I usually think of a few things. First, that Fall is coming, and how I'm going to miss the warm summer weather. Then I think on how my birthday is approaching, and whoa, how did it get to be October already? Of course, Halloween pops in there with the fun of parties and costumes. October is one of my favorite months.

October also brings to mind breast cancer awareness. It's a scary thought to realize how many people are afflicted with this disease. Just the number of people I actually know or know of that have this disease is staggering. I didn't realize, but as far as deaths occurring from cancer worldwide, breast cancer ranks as number five! In the U.S., it ranks as number three, and it is the most common cancer in women. My grandma had breast cancer, and she battled it for years. She passed away about a year and a half ago from this disease, so the cause is close to my heart. I have done the Revlon Run/Walk for Women the past 3 years, and it is overwhelming to see all of the survivors and all of the signs from people who are walking in support of a loved one or who have lost a loved one. I didn't realize just how many people are touched by this disease. I knew it was getting to be a big issue, but I don't think it hit me as to how much until I saw the outporing of people for that event.

So what can we do? Yeah, you can hide and say "it won't happen to me", but I tend to think women these days are much stronger. Education is key, and the more we can spread the word, the better. Knowledge of how to detect the disease and symptoms can help with early detection. How to treat cancer and what to expect is important for everyone to know. They have self-exam kits and there is informaton all over the internet. We just have to get the word out. Sadly, in this age of technology, so many people do not know about this disease. Let's make October more than just a spotlight: let's get our friends and family members passionate and involved in spreading the word.

Many stars have spoken out on their experiences with breast cancer or their fight for the cause. Lisa Leslie, Olivia Newton-John, Ming-Na, Whoopi Goldberg, Fran Drescher, Melissa Etheridge, Mya, Ricki Lake, Holly Robinson-Peete are just a few speaking out in the fight against breast cancer. If they can do it, so can we! I used to wonder how little ol' me could make a difference. I mean, low income, not many connections. Even if we donate a little bit and spread the word, everything multiplies. We can make a difference.