DISCUSSING BREAST CANCER WITH OTHERS COULD SAVE

DISCUSSING BREAST CANCER WITH OTHERS COULD SAVE
SOMEONE'S LI
by: ara
(ara) - breast cancer is the leading cause of
DEATH FOR WOMEN AGES 40 TO 59. THIS YEAR ALONE,
more than 200,000 women will be diagnosed with
the disease. another 40,000 will die from it.
EVEN THOUGH EARLY DETECTION IS CRITICAL TO
survival and every woman is at risk for
developing the disease, new research shows the
VAST MAJORITY OF WOMEN DO NOT DISCUSS THIS ISSUE
with each other.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY
wheatables crackers and the susan g. komen
breast cancer foundation, there is a startling
LACK OF DIALOGUE AMONG WOMEN ABOUT BREAST CANCER
risk and the importance of early detection.
sixty-five percent of women report they never or
INFREQUENTLY DISCUSS BREAST CANCER RISK EVEN
though almost half report having a close
personal experience (self, family or close
FRIEND DIAGNOSED) WITH THE DISEASE.
seventy-three percent of mothers surveyed
reported they never or hardly ever discuss
BREAST CANCER, BREAST SELF-EXAMS OR MAMMOGRAMS
with their daughters or granddaughters and 67
percent of the women surveyed said the same
ABOUT THEIR MOTHERS OR STEPMOTHERS.

"these findings are astounding particularly
BECAUSE ONE IN EIGHT WOMEN ARE EXPECTED TO
develop breast cancer during their lifetime.
communication and conversation are critical to
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF EARLY DETECTION
and adopting positive breast health practices,"
said susan braun, president and ceo of the komen
FOUNDATION.

in response, wheatables crackers and the komen
FOUNDATION HAVE LAUNCHED A PUBLIC EDUCATION
initiative to encourage women to talk about
breast cancer. called "talk about breast cancer
- IT'S A CONVERSATION WORTH HAVING," THE
initiative is designed to help women -- and
those who love them -- get the conversation
GOING.

special wheatables crackers packaging carries
PINK RIBBONS FOR LIFE AND CONVERSATION STARTER
tips, including:

* MAKE A MONTHLY CALENDAR NOTE TO CALL YOUR
mother, aunt, sister or daughter with a reminder
to conduct a breast self-exam. * enclose a note
AND A PINK RIBBON IN BIRTHDAY CARDS TO FEMALE
friends 40 years of age or older, reminding them
to have a mammogram.

* ask your doctor about breast health activities
at every appointment. don't wait for the doctor
TO ASK YOU.

* send a care package with how-to tips to young
WOMEN AT COLLEGE OR AWAY FROM HOME; ONCE A WOMAN
turns 20, she should begin conducting monthly
breast self-exams and have a doctor or nurse
EXAMINE HER BREASTS EVERY THREE YEARS.

* develop a "buddy" system with friends. ask
THEM TO REMIND YOU REGULARLY ABOUT BREAST HEALTH
activities and do the same for them.

* SHARE A CUP OF COFFEE, TEA OR COCOA AND BREAST
cancer facts with a friend: breast cancer is the
number one killer of women between the ages of
40 AND 59; THE MAJORITY OF WOMEN WHO DEVELOP
breast cancer had no family history of the
disease; if breast cancer is detected early, a
WOMAN'S CHANCES OF SURVIVAL IMPROVE
significantly.

"REGULAR DISCUSSIONS THAT ENCOURAGE BREAST
health activities like monthly breast
self-exams, annual clinical breast exams and
MAMMOGRAMS CAN MAKE A VERY REAL DIFFERENCE,"
said jenny enochson, spokesperson for wheatables
crackers. "that's why we're so committed to
GETTING THE CONVERSATION GOING."

wheatables crackers will donate $5.00 to the
KOMEN FOUNDATION FOR EVERY FIVE RIBBONS CLIPPED
from its special packaging and sent in by
customers. for more information about the
CAMPAIGN, LOG ONTO WWW.RIBBONSFORLIFE.COM.

courtesy of ara content

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