BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Don't be Like My Mother

by Lois Winston

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection is key to surviving breast cancer. Ignorance is not bliss. I can’t stress how important it is for women to have yearly mammograms.

My grandmother had breast cancer. Knowing this, you’d think my mother would have been proactive, but she wasn’t. Every year her doctor would give her a prescription for a mammogram, and every year she’d toss that prescription in the trash. I had no idea she never went for mammograms until the day she called to tell me she had breast cancer.

Because she had refused to go for yearly mammograms, her cancer wasn’t caught in the early stages. By the time she felt the lump in her breast, the cancer had metastasized and spread to her bones. But cancer didn’t kill my mother; stupidity did. I have no doubt that had she gone for yearly mammograms, she’d be alive today.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Don’t be like my mother. Don’t be stupid. Schedule your mammogram today.

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE--DEBUNKING BREAST CANCER MYTHS

When I was in my pre-teens, a neighbor died of breast cancer. It was my first introduction to the disease. My mother told me the neighbor had gotten breast cancer when a wooden hanger fell from a shelf in the closet and hit her in the breast.

Twenty years ago a friend stopped using antiperspirant because she’d read that it causes cancer.

Last week I read a newspaper article about a study that was done on the relationship between underwire bras and cancer. Conclusion: there is none.

Breast cancer myths still exist.

So because it’s National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’m here today to debunk some of the more prevalent myths and old wives tales you may have heard from relatives or read about in the Internet. News flash! Not everything on the Internet is true!

1. You will NOT get cancer from drinking coffee or any other form of caffeine.

2. Trauma to the breast does NOT cause cancer.

3. Antiperspirants do NOT cause cancer.

4. Having an abortion does NOT cause cancer.

5. Wearing an underwire bra does NOT cause cancer.

6. Hair dye and relaxers do NOT cause cancer. 

Now do yourself and your loved ones a favor and make your annual mammogram appointment.

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE--NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every year various companies produce limited edition pink products where a percentage of the profit goes to breast cancer research. Here are a few offerings from this year’s campaign:

Ford Motor Company: 100% of the net profits from their Warriors in Pink scarf is donated to various breast cancer charities.

Kohl's: all the net profits from Kohl's Cares TeK Gear collection go toward the fight against breast cancer.

Vince Camuto flats: 80% of each purchase goes to breast cancer research and education institutions.

OPI Pink of Hearts nail polish set in Mod About You and The Power of Pink: overall donation of $25,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Alex & Ani bangle: 20% of the purchase price goes to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.

Coabella tank top and boy shorts: 20% of the net proceeds goes to the Breast Cancer Research Center.

Vera Wang Truly Pink Eau de Parfum: 15% of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Clinique lipstick in Power of Pink with pouch: $3 per sale to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Sephora Collection: $2 from the sale of each The Beauty of Giving Back Face Palette is given to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE - BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, PART 2

Last week we told you about Ford Motor Company’s Warriors in Pink program, where 100% of the net proceeds go to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Another company that offers items for sale where the profits benefit breast cancer research is Avon.

Purchase Avon Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel in Pink Power, and 100% of the net profit is donated to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. According to their website, “Avon has donated nearly $700 million to end breast cancer and is the largest corporate supporter of the cause.”

Other products where Avon contributes 100% of the profit to the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade include the Breast Cancer Crusade Pink Water Bottle, the Breast Cancer Crusade Tennis Bracelet, Breast Cancer Crusade Foot Works Overnight Renewing Foot Cream, the Breast Cancer Crusade Strap Watch, the Breast Cancer Crusade Lips for Life Novelty Tote, the Breast Cancer Crusade Novelty Umbrella, and the Global Breast Cancer Crusade Pin. You can find all these products at the Avon website. 

Avon Pink Power Nail Enamel

Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Pink Water Bottle

Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Tennis Bracelet

Avon Foot Works Overnight Renewing Foot Cream

Avon Breast Cancer Crusade Watch

Avon Lips for Life Tote

Avon Lips for Life Umbrella

Global Breast Cancer Crusade Pin

Thanks, Janice! These are more great products to help the cause. Readers, which ones will you be ordering? Let us know for a chance to enter the drawing for a book from our Friday guest author. -- AP

FASHION WITH ERICA -- WARRIORS IN PINK

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and once again, many companies are offering items for sale where all or some of the profits benefit cancer research. One of the biggest supporters of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the Ford Motor Co. They offer a line of Warriors in Pink apparel and gear. And the best part? 100% of the net proceeds of the sales of these items goes to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To date Warriors in Pink has raised close to 2 million dollars.

Here are a few of my favorite Warriors in Pink products. You can check out the full line at the Warriors in Pink website. 

2011 Warriors in Pink Scarf

2011 Warriors in Pink Tie

Power of Pink Hoodie

Sweet Dreams PJ Pants

Toddler Pink Tee

Warriors in Pink Cap

Warriors in Pink Getaway Tote

Become a Warrior in Pink and help to wipe out breast cancer! Post a comment to enter the drawing for a copy of a book from our Book Club Friday guest author. -- AP

FASHION WITH ERICA/BEAUTY WITH NICOLE -- THINK PINK

As Janice mentioned yesterday, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Erica and Nicole teamed up today to bring you fashion and beauty products that benefit breast cancer charities. -- AP

That’s right, Anastasia. Thousands of companies produce pink products this time each year, and either a percentage or all of the proceeds from their sales go to helping find a cure for breast cancer. Here are a few of our favorites for this year.

Ford Motor Co. offers Warriors in Pink apparel and accessories at fordcares.com. We especially liked their Warrior Getaway Tote, a steal at $20. There are three dozen chic and stylish items to choose from, and the best part is that 100% of the proceeds from the sales go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Another fashion fave of ours is the Fergie Footwear Hope pump. The shoes are $45 and can be purchased at QVC beginning Oct. 15 ^th. 100% of the net proceeds will go to cancer research.

Skechers will donate $10 to breast cancer research for each pair of their limited-edition Shape-up Awareness shoes ($110)  purchased.

Opi Nail Lacquer has a Pink of Hearts shade ($8.50) for Breast Cancer Awareness Month and is donating $25,000 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Half a million dollars from sales of the Estee Lauder Pink Ribbon Collection will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

100% of the net proceeds from the sale of Ralph Lauren’s Pink Pony Collection Organic Tote ($10) will go to the Pink Pony Fund of the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation.

Some of the other companies offering limited edition fashion and beauty products with proceeds going to support breast cancer research this month are Lacoste, TOCS, Sephora, Dyanne Belle, Needham Lane, Tweezerman, Shiseido, Philosophy, and Avon. Look for them and many more as you shop this month to be part of the cure.


Thanks, Erica and Nicole! Isn’t it great when you can treat yourself and help fight breast cancer at the same time? Remember to post a comment to the blog this week, and you're automatically entered in a drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author.  -- AP

HEALTHY LIVING WITH JANICE--BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Health editor Janice Kerr talks about warning signs today. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia. Most people think of breast cancer as something that strikes middle-aged women, but breast cancer can strike anyone, including women in their early twenties. For that reason, all women should have a yearly breast exam by their gynecologist or internist and do routine monthly self-examinations. According to the Mayo Clinic, signs and symptoms of breast cancer may include the following:

• A breast lump or thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue
• Bloody discharge from the nipple
• Change in the size or shape of a breast
• Changes to the skin over the breast, such as dimpling
• Inverted nipple
• Peeling or flaking of the nipple skin
• Redness or pitting of the skin over your breast, like the skin of an orange

If you notice any of these signs and symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor immediately. And if you’re 40 years old or older, start getting mammograms. Speak with your doctor to determine how often you should have a mammogram. Age and family history are factors.

Mammograms save lives. They’re not the most comfortable thing in the world, but that few seconds of discomfort might just save your life. Too many women put off getting mammograms because they fear the procedure. This is not a case of what you don’t know can’t hurt you. When it comes to breast cancer, what you don’t know can kill you. By the time you feel a lump, it may have been growing for several years and might already have metastasized. Early detection is key. So do yourself and your family a favor -- make an appointment for a mammogram today.

Thanks so much, Janice! You may have saved a life today. 


Readers, remember to post a comment to the blog this week, and you're automatically entered in a drawing for a free book from our Book Club Friday guest author.-- AP