Wherever you are, whether an office, classroom or social event, count the number of women in the room – and one in eight will have breast cancer in their lifetime.  If you don’t know anyone who has had breast cancer, the statistic may not mean so much, but it should.  Although it is linked to genetics, like any disease it does not know the boundaries of a genetic line.  It could be you, or someone close.

The great news is that there are things you can actively do to limit your chances of breast cancer.  This month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so it is a great time to learn more and take steps to reduce your risk.  Following are some key things you can do, according to the American Cancer Society:

• Catch it before it catches you.  Do monthly self exams.  Get annual mammograms.  This is especially important for women over 40.  For women in their 20s and 30s, clinical breast exams should be done at least every 3 years.
• Eat right.  Eat a healthy diet, and try to control your weight.  Obesity raises breast cancer risk.
• Get up and Move.  Regular exercise, at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week, helps reduce the risk.
• Talk to you doctor.  Perhaps most important, be sure to talk to your doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts or have any other concerns.  Err on the side of caution.

The Pink for October campaign is about people on Twitter, Facebook or any other social network, as well as blog and website owners showing their support for breast cancer awareness by turning our social media avatars and websites pink for the month of October in support of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Very simply, turn your avatars pink, turn your websites pink, or add a Pink For October icon, banner or ribbon to your website.  PinkForOctober.org has a complete download area loaded with Twitter backgrounds, wallpapers, icons, banners and ribbons for you to download and use.  Essential Keystrokes also has quite the variety of beautiful Pink for October site designs that you download and quickly use to turn your blog and website Pink for October.  So please, get involved, GO PINK! and “Do Good” today.

OK folks, it doesn’t get easier than this one.  You can do a great deal of good today and EVERYDAY by simply heading over to The Breast Cancer Site and Click to Give and clicking on a button.  The simple act of clicking a button helps fund free mammograms for women in need – low-income, inner-city and minority women whose awareness of breast cancer and opportunity for help is often limited..  WHAT? That simple, really? YES!  Here’s how it works: (1) You click the button (2) Sponsors pay for mammograms.  It’s that simple.  Your click is paid for by site sponsors, and mammogram funding is provided to clinics throughout the U.S. through the efforts of the National Breast Cancer Foundation. So please, get involved, CLICK TO GIVE and “Do Good” today…and everyday!

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FREE Dazzled by Hope Pink Ribbon Pin

Not only does the Breast Cancer Site do great things by funding FREE mammograms for women in need, but they’ll give you something free for helping out too. All you have to do is sign up forTThe Breast Cancer Site’s FREE Daily Reminder Service, and to say thank you, they’ll give you a FREE Dazzled by Hope Pink Ribbon Pin! Better still, they’ll give extra funding toward mammograms for women in need if you are a brand-new registrant!

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