Every year, in October, I like to do a “reminder” blog on the month of October being “Breast Cancer Awareness Month”. While all of us women should be on top of getting our yearly mammograms done, I know that life sometimes gets in the way and making the appointment for a mammogram does not take precedence over more pressing matters. But the thing is, by getting a yearly mammogram done, you could head off a very potential and life-threatening issue, like breast cancer. Yes, a mammogram is uncomfortable, but it’s a 1/2 hour appointment, and it’s really not that bad. Not when you think about the possible consequences of NOT getting a mammogram done, or the fact that this one 1/2 hour in your day (once a year) could detect the beginnings of breast cancer, when it’s still easily treatable. Even if you don’t have breast cancer in your family, it doesn’t mean that you’re immune. Breast cancer does not discriminate, and it could, and does, happen to the healthiest of people.
So, my reminder today is for all of you to make your mammogram appointment for this year, and keep it! Each year, 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and 43,300 die. One woman in eight either has or will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. In addition, 1,600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 400 will die this year. If detected early, the five year survival rate exceeds 95%. Mammograms are among the best early detection methods, yet 13 million US women 40 years of age or older have never had a mammogram.
Now I want you to go and help someone get a mammogram who can’t afford one. It’s free, easy to do, and only takes a minute or two of your time. There are many women out there who don’t have the medical insurance to get a yearly mammogram, or just can’t afford the cost on their own. The best and earliest way to detect breast cancer is by having a mammogram, and it’s imperative that it’s done yearly. Especially after the age of 40.
That said, I would like each and every one of you to go to The Breast Cancer Site, where you can click on the “Fund Free Mammograms” button to help fund free mammograms to low-income, inner-city and minority women, whose awareness of breast cancer is often limited. This is a very legitimate site, and you are allowed to visit The Breast Cancer Site daily and click once.
Here are a few other ways to help fund those free mammograms. Tell your friends and family about The Breast Cancer Site. By spreading the word, you’ll help increase the number of visitors to The Breast Cancer Site and the amount of funding they generate for mammograms. Word of mouth – telling 5 friends who tell 5 friends – is a powerful way to fight breast cancer. And remember, you can click on this link once a day!
Make The Breast Cancer Site your home page and visit daily as soon as you log on to the internet! This is a great way to remind yourself to click each day, while spreading the word to others.
So, what are you waiting for? Go to The Breast Cancer Site and help fund mammograms, then make your yearly mammogram appointment for yourself!
Janelle Denison finds it hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since she first started writing romance novels. At first, it was a way to pass idle time while her husband worked swing shift, but before long it became an obsession to get published. Luckily, she kept at it (it took her over 5 years to get that first book published!) and is now a Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and USA Today Bestselling author! Now, after selling over 45 plus novels, she finds that her Plotmonkey pals help to keep her stories fresh and unique, and she can’t imagine writing a story without their input. Janelle lives in Oregon with her husband, Don, along with two teenage daughters that keep life interesting.
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Once Upon A Valentine
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This is one of the sites I click on a daily basis- all of them actually. Right there in my toolbar, next to you guys.It takes 30 seconds to donate to 6 different causes every morning- and I do it from each of my screen names.
Just don’t go shopping- you can do a lot of it and not realize how much time you have spent playing. I like to buy as many presents for the holidays and b’days from them as I can- esp the breast cancer and animal stores.
How can you go wrong- shopping and supporting good causes all in one step?
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This is a great way to help people get to the site sometimes people just need the little push. Nobody wants to have it but it is something we should all be very aware of and take the tests like Janelle said it only takes a few minutes and yes it is a little painful but over very quickly and well worth it.
Great reminder!!!!!!!
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Thank you for raising awareness!
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I just added the site to my favorites so I’ll click on it each day to help give. Thanks for the reminder.
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Great reminder. Thanx. I sometimes forget to click on this link.
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You ‘re the best Janelle.
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Thanks so much for the publicity for The Breast Cancer Site. It’s been one of my daily clicks for years. It’s so important–and so easy–to help others this way.
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Thanks for the reminder. It is so wonderful that you took today to highlight the importance of this month.
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Thanks for the reminder. I went over and clicked for a free mammogram. My appointment is Oct 22nd.
Here’s a joke I couldn’t resist sending.
Dorothy and Edna, two “senior” widows, are talking.
Dorothy: “That nice George Johnson asked me out for a date. I know you went out with him last week, and I wanted to talk with you about him before I give him my answer.”
Edna: “Well, I’ll tell you. He shows up at my apartment punctually at 7 P.M., dressed like such a gentleman in a fine suit, and he brings me such beautiful flowers! Then he takes me downstairs, and what’s there but a luxury car… a limousine, uniformed chauffeur and all. Then he takes me out for dinner… a marvelous dinner… lobster, champagne, dessert, and after-dinner drinks. Then we go see a show. Let me tell you, Dorothy, I enjoyed it so much I could have just died from pleasure! So then we are coming back to my apartment and he turns into an ANIMAL. Completely crazy, he tears off my expensive new dress and has his way with me two times!”
Dorothy: “Goodness gracious!… so you are telling me I shouldn’t go out with him?”
Edna: “No, no, no… I’m just saying, wear an old dress.”
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Cher that was too funny. I never saw that one before.
Great pick me up.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Thank you for sending out the message!
I added the site to my favs. Ladies, get a mamogram! For you, for your family! Please save your ta-tas 
!
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Hey Janelle, thanks for the reminder. I had a scare this summer, which you know about already, and it was because of getting a mammogram that I was able to take precautionary measures. Going through the process wasn’t easy, but it was worth it in retrospect. I must say though that even if you are younger than 40, I am 35, it is important to get a mammogram done. It was scary at first, but that was psychology working against me. My doctor was able to detect a lump from reading the mammogram, which they found to be benign. It still gets me when I talk about it, but you and the rest of my beloved
were very supportive, which I truly appreciated. Thank you!!!! So if you are in your mid to late 30s, especially if breast cancer is in your family, you should definitely get a mammogram done too. I will head over and click now.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Thanks for the reminder, Janelle! I am overdue for my annual appt and you’ve reminded me why I shouldn’t just keep letting it go!
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Great minds, Janelle. I linked to The Breast Cancer Site on Penumbra today. I plan to add the link to them each day this month as a reminder! Think Pink this month, ladies! (And gents, too!)
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Like ev, each day I visit the Breast Cancer site and click all six of the tabs.
In 1975, we lost our next-to-the-youngest sister to a rapidly moving breast
cancer. Her physician, who was also my gynecologist, told the four remaining
sisters that we should all have mammograms immediately and then yearly from
then on. I have followed his directions and have also had three biopsies, due to suspicious films. I am blessed that all they found was benign cysts. Even at my age, I still keep my yearly date with the mammography department.
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Love that site- and thanks for the yearly reminder! I think it’s really important.